a little over a year ago my best friend tried to kill her
tried to kill her
tried to kill her on the night of her suicide attempt we
on the night of her suicide attempt we
on the night of her suicide attempt we were texting back and forth just like
were texting back and forth just like
were texting back and forth just like any other night until I soon realized
any other night until I soon realized
any other night until I soon realized she needed more help than I could offer
she needed more help than I could offer
she needed more help than I could offer she was texting me about details of a
she was texting me about details of a
she was texting me about details of a plan she had set for herself which
plan she had set for herself which
plan she had set for herself which involved a mix of drugs from her mom’s
involved a mix of drugs from her mom’s
involved a mix of drugs from her mom’s medicine cabinet I couldn’t believe she
medicine cabinet I couldn’t believe she
medicine cabinet I couldn’t believe she was going through all this alone
was going through all this alone
was going through all this alone I just wanted to be there with her but
I just wanted to be there with her but
I just wanted to be there with her but had no way of getting to her her
had no way of getting to her her
had no way of getting to her her scariest text to me read it’ll all be
scariest text to me read it’ll all be
scariest text to me read it’ll all be over tomorrow I called 911 it– even
over tomorrow I called 911 it– even
over tomorrow I called 911 it– even though she didn’t want me to and the
though she didn’t want me to and the
though she didn’t want me to and the rest is a complete blur of terror and
rest is a complete blur of terror and
rest is a complete blur of terror and worry as I waited for a response from
worry as I waited for a response from
worry as I waited for a response from the police officer who was sent to check
the police officer who was sent to check
the police officer who was sent to check on her thankfully she made it through
on her thankfully she made it through
on her thankfully she made it through and is now seeing a therapist at first
and is now seeing a therapist at first
and is now seeing a therapist at first she was really angry that I called 911
she was really angry that I called 911
she was really angry that I called 911 and brought so much attention to her but
and brought so much attention to her but
and brought so much attention to her but when I saw her the week after she
when I saw her the week after she
when I saw her the week after she thanked me this experience opened my
thanked me this experience opened my
thanked me this experience opened my eyes to the power of peer support if my
eyes to the power of peer support if my
eyes to the power of peer support if my friend hadn’t reached out and let me
friend hadn’t reached out and let me
friend hadn’t reached out and let me know she was feeling desperately unhappy
know she was feeling desperately unhappy
know she was feeling desperately unhappy and if I hadn’t gone against her will to
and if I hadn’t gone against her will to
and if I hadn’t gone against her will to call 911 OS she would have received the
call 911 OS she would have received the
call 911 OS she would have received the help she needed and be alive today I
help she needed and be alive today I
help she needed and be alive today I realized then that it’s vital to have at
realized then that it’s vital to have at
realized then that it’s vital to have at least one person to confide in when life
least one person to confide in when life
least one person to confide in when life becomes too hard to face alone it’s
becomes too hard to face alone it’s
becomes too hard to face alone it’s equally important to feel confident
equally important to feel confident
equally important to feel confident talking about how her feeling seeking
talking about how her feeling seeking
talking about how her feeling seeking help and using the resources around us
help and using the resources around us
help and using the resources around us my friend felt like she had to keep the
my friend felt like she had to keep the
my friend felt like she had to keep the difficult emotions who is experiencing
difficult emotions who is experiencing
difficult emotions who is experiencing to herself and she kept it all locked up
to herself and she kept it all locked up
to herself and she kept it all locked up inside her until she no longer knew how
inside her until she no longer knew how
inside her until she no longer knew how to hold on she’s not the only one who’s
to hold on she’s not the only one who’s
to hold on she’s not the only one who’s felt this way many of us teenagers feel
felt this way many of us teenagers feel
felt this way many of us teenagers feel humiliated about wanting to see a
humiliated about wanting to see a
humiliated about wanting to see a counselor are looking for help through
counselor are looking for help through
counselor are looking for help through anonymous referral boxes at school
anonymous referral boxes at school
anonymous referral boxes at school the stigma and negative perceptions of
the stigma and negative perceptions of
the stigma and negative perceptions of going to therapy keeps many of us from
going to therapy keeps many of us from
going to therapy keeps many of us from receiving the help we may need now we’ve
receiving the help we may need now we’ve
receiving the help we may need now we’ve heard this word stigma has thrown around
heard this word stigma has thrown around
heard this word stigma has thrown around a lot three out of four people with
a lot three out of four people with
a lot three out of four people with mental illness report experiencing
mental illness report experiencing
mental illness report experiencing stigma stigma is basically a mark of
stigma stigma is basically a mark of
stigma stigma is basically a mark of disgrace or negative attribution that
disgrace or negative attribution that
disgrace or negative attribution that sets a person apart for example when
sets a person apart for example when
sets a person apart for example when someone is labeled by their mental
someone is labeled by their mental
someone is labeled by their mental illness they’re seen as part of a
illness they’re seen as part of a
illness they’re seen as part of a certain stereotyped group
certain stereotyped group
certain stereotyped group stigma can also cause humiliation in
stigma can also cause humiliation in
stigma can also cause humiliation in seeking help or treatment it’s important
seeking help or treatment it’s important
seeking help or treatment it’s important to remember that shame or stigma they
to remember that shame or stigma they
to remember that shame or stigma they don’t discriminate and meaning any or
don’t discriminate and meaning any or
don’t discriminate and meaning any or all of us can experience this and
all of us can experience this and
all of us can experience this and actually over half of all teens with
actually over half of all teens with
actually over half of all teens with mental health difficulties try to cope
mental health difficulties try to cope
mental health difficulties try to cope alone because asking for help around
alone because asking for help around
alone because asking for help around these issues is so stigmatized
these issues is so stigmatized
these issues is so stigmatized now although stigma doesn’t discriminate
now although stigma doesn’t discriminate
now although stigma doesn’t discriminate and we can all experience stigma the
and we can all experience stigma the
and we can all experience stigma the levels of stigma can actually vary
levels of stigma can actually vary
levels of stigma can actually vary between certain demographics and social
between certain demographics and social
between certain demographics and social groups for example African Americans and
groups for example African Americans and
groups for example African Americans and Hispanic Americans used mental health
Hispanic Americans used mental health
Hispanic Americans used mental health services at about half the rate of
services at about half the rate of
services at about half the rate of Caucasian Americans in the past year and
Caucasian Americans in the past year and
Caucasian Americans in the past year and Asian Americans at about one-third the
Asian Americans at about one-third the
Asian Americans at about one-third the rate this shows that certain minority
rate this shows that certain minority
rate this shows that certain minority groups in certain stereotype groups face
groups in certain stereotype groups face
groups in certain stereotype groups face dual stigma or double stigma and this
dual stigma or double stigma and this
dual stigma or double stigma and this causes them to seek out help even less
causes them to seek out help even less
causes them to seek out help even less another example is seen with the LGBTQ
another example is seen with the LGBTQ
another example is seen with the LGBTQ community who faced stigma and Prejudice
community who faced stigma and Prejudice
community who faced stigma and Prejudice based on their sexual orientation or
based on their sexual orientation or
based on their sexual orientation or gender identity while also grappling
gender identity while also grappling
gender identity while also grappling with a societal bias against mental
with a societal bias against mental
with a societal bias against mental health conditions now it’s important to
health conditions now it’s important to
health conditions now it’s important to remember that mental health conditions
remember that mental health conditions
remember that mental health conditions are so common that one in five teens
are so common that one in five teens
are so common that one in five teens will experience a mental illness and
will experience a mental illness and
will experience a mental illness and within this population over seventy
within this population over seventy
within this population over seventy percent will not seek help this is a big
percent will not seek help this is a big
percent will not seek help this is a big problem now we can put this stigma in
problem now we can put this stigma in
problem now we can put this stigma in perspective by taking a look at how we
perspective by taking a look at how we
perspective by taking a look at how we as a community generally think of mental
as a community generally think of mental
as a community generally think of mental health conditions so if a student at the
health conditions so if a student at the
health conditions so if a student at the school were to call in sick for having
school were to call in sick for having
school were to call in sick for having the flu that’s fine that’s normal no
the flu that’s fine that’s normal no
the flu that’s fine that’s normal no problem meaning we all get the flu and
problem meaning we all get the flu and
problem meaning we all get the flu and there’s really no reason to think much
there’s really no reason to think much
there’s really no reason to think much of it but on the other hand if a student
of it but on the other hand if a student
of it but on the other hand if a student were to call in sick for having a panic
were to call in sick for having a panic
were to call in sick for having a panic attack due to anxiety we may start to
attack due to anxiety we may start to
attack due to anxiety we may start to question whether the student is
question whether the student is
question whether the student is emotionally fit to be in a school
emotionally fit to be in a school
emotionally fit to be in a school environment and we may unconsciously
environment and we may unconsciously
environment and we may unconsciously start to treat this person differently
start to treat this person differently
start to treat this person differently as if they’re weak or fragile or can’t
as if they’re weak or fragile or can’t
as if they’re weak or fragile or can’t handle things and we may even start to
handle things and we may even start to
handle things and we may even start to think to ourselves we’ll just get it
think to ourselves we’ll just get it
think to ourselves we’ll just get it together this is wrong mental health is
together this is wrong mental health is
together this is wrong mental health is just as important as physical health and
just as important as physical health and
just as important as physical health and thus should be treated as such there’s
thus should be treated as such there’s
thus should be treated as such there’s no reason to discriminate against mental
no reason to discriminate against mental
no reason to discriminate against mental this like anxiety or bipolar disorder
this like anxiety or bipolar disorder
this like anxiety or bipolar disorder while being more accepting a physical
while being more accepting a physical
while being more accepting a physical illness like asthma or diabetes these
illness like asthma or diabetes these
illness like asthma or diabetes these are just a few examples this
are just a few examples this
are just a few examples this discrimination all only adds to the
discrimination all only adds to the
discrimination all only adds to the shame of those living with mental health
shame of those living with mental health
shame of those living with mental health conditions I truly believe we have to
conditions I truly believe we have to
conditions I truly believe we have to fight the mental health stigma in order
fight the mental health stigma in order
fight the mental health stigma in order to make any sort of progress in the
to make any sort of progress in the
to make any sort of progress in the field of teen mental health and this
field of teen mental health and this
field of teen mental health and this involves a change in mindset on our part
involves a change in mindset on our part
involves a change in mindset on our part so rather than thinking of of seeking
so rather than thinking of of seeking
so rather than thinking of of seeking help as a weakness we should seek help
help as a weakness we should seek help
help as a weakness we should seek help because we want to remain strong
because we want to remain strong
because we want to remain strong physically mentally emotionally strong
physically mentally emotionally strong
physically mentally emotionally strong one way to chip away at the stigma of
one way to chip away at the stigma of
one way to chip away at the stigma of counseling or seeking help is to form
counseling or seeking help is to form
counseling or seeking help is to form more student-led support groups within
more student-led support groups within
more student-led support groups within schools the basic solution to ending the
schools the basic solution to ending the
schools the basic solution to ending the stigma is talk about it this can be done
stigma is talk about it this can be done
stigma is talk about it this can be done by holding regular open meetings for
by holding regular open meetings for
by holding regular open meetings for students to come together and share
students to come together and share
students to come together and share coping strategies or simply have a
coping strategies or simply have a
coping strategies or simply have a discussion about how life is going this
discussion about how life is going this
discussion about how life is going this encourages us to support each other and
encourages us to support each other and
encourages us to support each other and advocate for each other which may make
advocate for each other which may make
advocate for each other which may make it easier for us to get vulnerable and
it easier for us to get vulnerable and
it easier for us to get vulnerable and ask for help when we need it a teen run
ask for help when we need it a teen run
ask for help when we need it a teen run peer support network would not be the
peer support network would not be the
peer support network would not be the be-all end-all of mental health support
be-all end-all of mental health support
be-all end-all of mental health support but it would be a big step forward
but it would be a big step forward
but it would be a big step forward especially when combined with mental
especially when combined with mental
especially when combined with mental health education and a list of readily
health education and a list of readily
health education and a list of readily available professional resources this
available professional resources this
available professional resources this three pronged approach could start a
three pronged approach could start a
three pronged approach could start a revolution in adolescent mental
revolution in adolescent mental
revolution in adolescent mental healthcare however unfortunately most
healthcare however unfortunately most
healthcare however unfortunately most schools don’t have peer support groups
schools don’t have peer support groups
schools don’t have peer support groups available for students and are also
available for students and are also
available for students and are also lacking in mental health education the
lacking in mental health education the
lacking in mental health education the media the school’s the parents teachers
media the school’s the parents teachers
media the school’s the parents teachers students we’re all shouting that teen
students we’re all shouting that teen
students we’re all shouting that teen mental health is an issue and we see
mental health is an issue and we see
mental health is an issue and we see these types of depictions all over the
these types of depictions all over the
these types of depictions all over the place yet there’s still so much to be
place yet there’s still so much to be
place yet there’s still so much to be done and we have so much progress to
done and we have so much progress to
done and we have so much progress to make to make in the area of breaking
make to make in the area of breaking
make to make in the area of breaking down the stigma our progress can start
down the stigma our progress can start
down the stigma our progress can start here with us as a high school talking
here with us as a high school talking
here with us as a high school talking about it and practicing empathy my
about it and practicing empathy my
about it and practicing empathy my friend suicide attempt made me realize
friend suicide attempt made me realize
friend suicide attempt made me realize how important it is to simply start the
how important it is to simply start the
how important it is to simply start the discussion about mental health and
discussion about mental health and
discussion about mental health and spread the message to those who are
spread the message to those who are
spread the message to those who are hurting you are not alone dr. Adil Shyam
hurting you are not alone dr. Adil Shyam
hurting you are not alone dr. Adil Shyam a Stanford psychiatry
a Stanford psychiatry
a Stanford psychiatry says quote reaching out to people early
says quote reaching out to people early
says quote reaching out to people early and sharing how we’re feeling not only
and sharing how we’re feeling not only
and sharing how we’re feeling not only helps you but it helps those around you
helps you but it helps those around you
helps you but it helps those around you feel more comfortable talking about how
feel more comfortable talking about how
feel more comfortable talking about how they feel too now you don’t have to be a
they feel too now you don’t have to be a
they feel too now you don’t have to be a psychiatrist to understand or share this
psychiatrist to understand or share this
psychiatrist to understand or share this advice the idea is that sharing our
advice the idea is that sharing our
advice the idea is that sharing our feelings is contagious the more we get
feelings is contagious the more we get
feelings is contagious the more we get vulnerable and we share how we’re we
vulnerable and we share how we’re we
vulnerable and we share how we’re we share how we’re feeling the more
share how we’re feeling the more
share how we’re feeling the more comfortable others around us feel
comfortable others around us feel
comfortable others around us feel talking about how they feel too and it’s
talking about how they feel too and it’s
talking about how they feel too and it’s sort of the cycle that just continues
sort of the cycle that just continues
sort of the cycle that just continues erasing the stigma so basically thinking
erasing the stigma so basically thinking
erasing the stigma so basically thinking about this one way to talk about these
about this one way to talk about these
about this one way to talk about these difficult topics is to do it with your
difficult topics is to do it with your
difficult topics is to do it with your classmates your teammates your friends
classmates your teammates your friends
classmates your teammates your friends people who you feel you are similar to
people who you feel you are similar to
people who you feel you are similar to and that would understand and support
and that would understand and support
and that would understand and support you I want to go back to this concept of
you I want to go back to this concept of
you I want to go back to this concept of peer support since it’s incredibly
peer support since it’s incredibly
peer support since it’s incredibly significant for us as teenagers who are
significant for us as teenagers who are
significant for us as teenagers who are more likely to confide in relate to and
more likely to confide in relate to and
more likely to confide in relate to and listen to other teenagers rather than
listen to other teenagers rather than
listen to other teenagers rather than our parents or adults peer support can
our parents or adults peer support can
our parents or adults peer support can be defined as the process of giving and
be defined as the process of giving and
be defined as the process of giving and receiving encouragement and assistance
receiving encouragement and assistance
receiving encouragement and assistance in order to achieve long term well-being
in order to achieve long term well-being
in order to achieve long term well-being as apear what you can do is offer
as apear what you can do is offer
as apear what you can do is offer emotional support share knowledge teach
emotional support share knowledge teach
emotional support share knowledge teach skills and connect people with resources
skills and connect people with resources
skills and connect people with resources communities of support and other people
communities of support and other people
communities of support and other people peer support has been proven to improve
peer support has been proven to improve
peer support has been proven to improve the quality of life and also reduce the
the quality of life and also reduce the
the quality of life and also reduce the cost of mental health services peer
cost of mental health services peer
cost of mental health services peer support all begins with a conversation a
support all begins with a conversation a
support all begins with a conversation a story shared an experience highlighted
story shared an experience highlighted
story shared an experience highlighted or an emotion conveyed with each emotion
or an emotion conveyed with each emotion
or an emotion conveyed with each emotion thought story experience that we share
thought story experience that we share
thought story experience that we share we spread the message that it’s really
we spread the message that it’s really
we spread the message that it’s really okay to talk about mental health and how
okay to talk about mental health and how
okay to talk about mental health and how we’re feeling a revolution in teen
we’re feeling a revolution in teen
we’re feeling a revolution in teen mental healthcare can start with us
mental healthcare can start with us
mental healthcare can start with us sharing and talking about it so that
sharing and talking about it so that
sharing and talking about it so that others can get information comfort and
others can get information comfort and
others can get information comfort and feel like part of a community the
feel like part of a community the
feel like part of a community the biggest thing we forget is that we’re
biggest thing we forget is that we’re
biggest thing we forget is that we’re not alone we all experience times of
not alone we all experience times of
not alone we all experience times of difficulty disappointment and
difficulty disappointment and
difficulty disappointment and discouragement high school is a hard
discouragement high school is a hard
discouragement high school is a hard time and life naturally has its ups and
time and life naturally has its ups and
time and life naturally has its ups and downs we need to support each other and
downs we need to support each other and
downs we need to support each other and learn from difficult times as they shape
learn from difficult times as they shape
learn from difficult times as they shape us
so it’s important to the more we talk
so it’s important to the more we talk about our mental health experiences the
about our mental health experiences the
about our mental health experiences the more we realize that we’re really not
more we realize that we’re really not
more we realize that we’re really not alone and the easier it will be for us
alone and the easier it will be for us
alone and the easier it will be for us to ask for help when we need it a good
to ask for help when we need it a good
to ask for help when we need it a good question to start asking in order to
question to start asking in order to
question to start asking in order to open this discussion around mental
open this discussion around mental
open this discussion around mental health is not how are you because we all
health is not how are you because we all
health is not how are you because we all know the answer is fine but ask how are
know the answer is fine but ask how are
know the answer is fine but ask how are you really I encourage all of you to
you really I encourage all of you to
you really I encourage all of you to find a person a classmate teacher friend
find a person a classmate teacher friend
find a person a classmate teacher friend someone you feel you can understand
someone you feel you can understand
someone you feel you can understand trust and confide in sometimes all we
trust and confide in sometimes all we
trust and confide in sometimes all we really need is the trusted ear that’s
really need is the trusted ear that’s
really need is the trusted ear that’s willing to listen in order for us to
willing to listen in order for us to
willing to listen in order for us to voice our thoughts the more we talk
voice our thoughts the more we talk
voice our thoughts the more we talk about our mental health again the more
about our mental health again the more
about our mental health again the more we realize we’re not alone and we’re
we realize we’re not alone and we’re
we realize we’re not alone and we’re really all normal and that asking for
really all normal and that asking for
really all normal and that asking for help should not be humiliating so don’t
help should not be humiliating so don’t
help should not be humiliating so don’t be afraid of sharing your story and your
be afraid of sharing your story and your
be afraid of sharing your story and your emotions it will inspire others to share
emotions it will inspire others to share
emotions it will inspire others to share to speak up about theirs and share out
to speak up about theirs and share out
to speak up about theirs and share out too
too
too thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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