Founder & Head of Faculty, Progress Guide
Consultant Psychiatrist | International Suicide Prevention Leader | Author of 51 Books

Dr Manaan Kar Ray is an internationally recognised psychiatrist and a pioneering voice in suicide prevention. He is the Founder of Progress Guide. Within the public sectors in QLD, he currently serves as Director of Adult Mental Health at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, and previously held a decade-long tenure as Director for Mental Health Services in Cambridge, UK. Manaan trained at Oxford and has held an Associate Professorship at the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention at Griffith University. With over 51 books authored and numerous international presentations, his work continues to shape suicide prevention practice across systems and continents.

Manaan is the architect of PROTECT (PROactive deTECTion), an internationally recognised suicide prevention training framework, and co-creator of the AIMS Suicide Prevention Pathway. His approach focuses on relational safety, early detection, and values-guided care. As a content expert on the AHPRA Expert Advisory Group for preventing suicide in health professionals, Manaan contributes to national policy and clinician wellbeing initiatives. He also led the nationally awarded PROMISE project in the UK, which significantly reduced coercive practices and enhanced the patient experience in mental health services. His deep commitment to trauma-informed, compassionate care continues to shape Progress Guide’s curriculum, podcast, and training programs. Dr Manaan Kar Ray also serves as the Suicide Prevention Expert for Maudsley Learning, delivering specialist training in the UK. Globally he has been supporting suicide prevention programs across South East Asia, South America, and Africa.

Manaan is also the founder of ADHD Life Guide, a strengths-based, neuroscience-informed platform supporting adults with ADHD through structured, values-led resources. He is the co-creator of the FLOURISH ADHD Coaching Framework, developer of the SAFE Life Guide app (which has received international recognition), and author of the Act Now, Breathe Now, and Not Now book series. His work empowers adults with ADHD to navigate procrastination, impulsivity, mindfulness, and emotional regulation. With over 10 books on ADHD and a clinical practice in Brisbane, Manaan integrates clinical expertise with practical tools for lasting change.

In addition, Manaan serves as a mentor and content advisor for Medlock Holmes, a detective-themed case-based learning platform founded by his daughter, Mahi Kar Ray, a first-year medical student. Medlock Holmes supports aspiring doctors to develop clinical reasoning and confidence through story-rich tutorials and diagnostic simulations. Manaan’s involvement brings his expertise in reflection, values-based practice, and mental health into the training of tomorrow’s clinicians. The collaboration reflects a shared vision: to nurture better doctors from the beginning—not only skilled, but emotionally intelligent, curious, and resilient.

Beyond his professional work, Manaan is a Level 2 cricket coach, cyclist, photographer, and devoted family man. He is the author of the Sunny’s Values Scouts 20-book series for children, as well as multiple resilience-building guides for young people, families, and healthcare professionals. You can explore his full bibliography on Amazon.