Shaun Flores

Shaun Flores is a UK-based mental health advocate, five-time TEDx speaker, freelance journalist, and social commentator recognized for his contributions to the global conversation on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Flores’s advocacy and public speaking are informed by his personal experiences with OCD and ADHD, following a period of significant mental health challenges. He lives with sexual orientation OCD (SO-OCD) and harm OCD, and has used his experiences to lead public campaigns aimed at destigmatizing OCD and expanding its representation in mental health discourse.

Prior to his focus on mental health advocacy, Flores built a career in the creative industries, working as a commercial model with brands including Uber, Peloton, John Lewis, and Walkers. His consulting work centers on healthy masculinity and body image, drawing on his modeling background to address and redefine societal standards for men. As a freelance journalist, Flores has contributed to online publications such as The Metro, iNews, South West Londoner, The Common Sense Network, and Jacamo's The Book of Man. He hosts the podcast "Flower Hour," which explores social inclusion and mental health topics.

Flores has delivered TEDx talks including "The Urgency of Early Intervention" and "The Straitjacket of Masculinity," addressing subjects such as education, men's mental health, and the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for mental health conditions. His speaking engagements include appearances on BBC, The Metro, Channel 4, and at healthcare institutions. After participating in Channel 4's "Unapologetic" chat show, Flores received outreach from individuals sharing their own experiences with OCD. His client portfolio includes Vodafone, Panasonic, the NHS, Imperial College, and Goldsmiths University.

A key focus of Flores’s advocacy is increasing representation of Black and ethnic minority communities within the OCD and broader mental health space. He works to raise awareness and encourage open discussion of OCD among underrepresented groups. Flores volunteers with Orchard OCD, a UK-based charity dedicated to advancing research and treatment for OCD, and consults within the NHS, leveraging his lived experience and research to promote inclusivity and accessibility in mental health services.

As an International OCD Foundation advocate and frequent media contributor, Flores shares his story across podcasts and platforms, offering practical strategies for stigma reduction and mental wellbeing. Through programs such as "Rejection Rehab™" and "The Flores Effect™," he supports organizations in building resilience and supporting mental health. Flores’s advocacy is rooted in the belief that open discussion and representation are essential to recovery and progress in the mental health field.