good morning ladies and gentlemen so when I was first invited to talk a telex
when I was first invited to talk a telex
when I was first invited to talk a telex UNEP I was really excited I thought okay
UNEP I was really excited I thought okay
UNEP I was really excited I thought okay so somebody is recognizing my efforts
so somebody is recognizing my efforts
so somebody is recognizing my efforts somebody can see the work I did in the
somebody can see the work I did in the
somebody can see the work I did in the last few months and years actually
last few months and years actually
last few months and years actually because for the last 12 years I’ve been
because for the last 12 years I’ve been
because for the last 12 years I’ve been aware of having mental health and of the
aware of having mental health and of the
aware of having mental health and of the importance of caring about it and for
importance of caring about it and for
importance of caring about it and for the last seven years I’ve been trying to
the last seven years I’ve been trying to
the last seven years I’ve been trying to remind others that they have their
remind others that they have their
remind others that they have their mental health and they should take care
mental health and they should take care
mental health and they should take care of it so that was about June July when I
of it so that was about June July when I
of it so that was about June July when I was first contacted by unep asked to
was first contacted by unep asked to
was first contacted by unep asked to talk here and that was all the
talk here and that was all the
talk here and that was all the excitement that I described and I
excitement that I described and I
excitement that I described and I because I love my job and love what I do
because I love my job and love what I do
because I love my job and love what I do I was I started thinking of all the
I was I started thinking of all the
I was I started thinking of all the things I can say here and all the things
things I can say here and all the things
things I can say here and all the things I can talk about and how I’m gonna tell
I can talk about and how I’m gonna tell
I can talk about and how I’m gonna tell you about the idea we had with my my
you about the idea we had with my my
you about the idea we had with my my friends and how studying in the UK
friends and how studying in the UK
friends and how studying in the UK really helped me to recognize that there
really helped me to recognize that there
really helped me to recognize that there is still some stuff that we don’t talk
is still some stuff that we don’t talk
is still some stuff that we don’t talk about here in the Czech Republic and in
about here in the Czech Republic and in
about here in the Czech Republic and in the Western world it’s very common to
the Western world it’s very common to
the Western world it’s very common to talk about it and that’s mental health
talk about it and that’s mental health
talk about it and that’s mental health but also mental illness and this is the
but also mental illness and this is the
but also mental illness and this is the brain I laugh that’s actually mine brain
brain I laugh that’s actually mine brain
brain I laugh that’s actually mine brain and that’s the brain that came up with
and that’s the brain that came up with
and that’s the brain that came up with all the ideas of what I can do about
all the ideas of what I can do about
all the ideas of what I can do about changing the language changing the
changing the language changing the
changing the language changing the situation here in the Czech Republic and
situation here in the Czech Republic and
situation here in the Czech Republic and how we talk about mental health so that
how we talk about mental health so that
how we talk about mental health so that was June and was very excited and then
was June and was very excited and then
was June and was very excited and then several months later an email came and
several months later an email came and
several months later an email came and it asked me to write my bio for TEDx
it asked me to write my bio for TEDx
it asked me to write my bio for TEDx unep it asked me to write a short draft
unep it asked me to write a short draft
unep it asked me to write a short draft of the speech and suddenly I realized
of the speech and suddenly I realized
of the speech and suddenly I realized well why did they invite me I have
well why did they invite me I have
well why did they invite me I have nothing to say I am a failure nothing in
nothing to say I am a failure nothing in
nothing to say I am a failure nothing in my life is going well and I can’t even
my life is going well and I can’t even
my life is going well and I can’t even get out of bed in the morning let alone
get out of bed in the morning let alone
get out of bed in the morning let alone write some draft of his piece and I
write some draft of his piece and I
write some draft of his piece and I should have got a gif and that should be
should have got a gif and that should be
should have got a gif and that should be very inspirational because after seven
very inspirational because after seven
very inspirational because after seven years of taking care of my mental health
years of taking care of my mental health
years of taking care of my mental health being really aware of it and sticking to
being really aware of it and sticking to
being really aware of it and sticking to my medication schedule my depression was
my medication schedule my depression was
my medication schedule my depression was back and I wasn’t prepared for it I’ve
back and I wasn’t prepared for it I’ve
back and I wasn’t prepared for it I’ve been going around Czech Republic for the
been going around Czech Republic for the
been going around Czech Republic for the past two years talking about how
past two years talking about how
past two years talking about how important it is to talk about your
important it is to talk about your
important it is to talk about your mental health and how important it is to
mental health and how important it is to
mental health and how important it is to share the stories if you’re mentally
share the stories if you’re mentally
share the stories if you’re mentally unwell and then I found myself in the
unwell and then I found myself in the
unwell and then I found myself in the situation after seven years actually
situation after seven years actually
situation after seven years actually relapsing into depression and anxiety
relapsing into depression and anxiety
relapsing into depression and anxiety and suddenly I wanted to write an email
and suddenly I wanted to write an email
and suddenly I wanted to write an email saying I’m not feeling physically well
saying I’m not feeling physically well
saying I’m not feeling physically well and I can’t attend TEDx because you know
and I can’t attend TEDx because you know
and I can’t attend TEDx because you know I came down with this horrible flu and
I came down with this horrible flu and
I came down with this horrible flu and I’m in the hospital and they’re taking
I’m in the hospital and they’re taking
I’m in the hospital and they’re taking care of me and I can’t brief and
care of me and I can’t brief and
care of me and I can’t brief and everything and and I I didn’t want to
everything and and I I didn’t want to
everything and and I I didn’t want to mention that I was actually lying in my
mention that I was actually lying in my
mention that I was actually lying in my bed and couldn’t wash my hair and
bed and couldn’t wash my hair and
bed and couldn’t wash my hair and started using the dry shampoo a little
started using the dry shampoo a little
started using the dry shampoo a little bit too much because I was much easier
bit too much because I was much easier
bit too much because I was much easier and the same brain that I loved just two
and the same brain that I loved just two
and the same brain that I loved just two months before that I ended up hating I
months before that I ended up hating I
months before that I ended up hating I felt like a hypocrite because you know
felt like a hypocrite because you know
felt like a hypocrite because you know two years spending talking to people
two years spending talking to people
two years spending talking to people about how important it is to talk about
about how important it is to talk about
about how important it is to talk about mental health and I was the one telling
mental health and I was the one telling
mental health and I was the one telling my story I wasn’t even able to write an
my story I wasn’t even able to write an
my story I wasn’t even able to write an email saying sincerely sorry I’m down
email saying sincerely sorry I’m down
email saying sincerely sorry I’m down and terrible depression and anxiety and
and terrible depression and anxiety and
and terrible depression and anxiety and I can’t write this speech and I don’t
I can’t write this speech and I don’t
I can’t write this speech and I don’t even know if I’m gonna let it be able to
even know if I’m gonna let it be able to
even know if I’m gonna let it be able to come and talk
come and talk
come and talk here that’s when I realized that Atlas
here that’s when I realized that Atlas
here that’s when I realized that Atlas it is probably hard for people to talk
it is probably hard for people to talk
it is probably hard for people to talk about their stories once there are in
about their stories once there are in
about their stories once there are in the midst of experiencing their mental
the midst of experiencing their mental
the midst of experiencing their mental health problems and even though I spent
health problems and even though I spent
health problems and even though I spent two years talking about how hard it is
two years talking about how hard it is
two years talking about how hard it is but how important it is I realized it’s
but how important it is I realized it’s
but how important it is I realized it’s probably much harder and that we still
probably much harder and that we still
probably much harder and that we still don’t have the right language here at
don’t have the right language here at
don’t have the right language here at least here in the Czech Republic to talk
least here in the Czech Republic to talk
least here in the Czech Republic to talk about mental health we still use a lot
about mental health we still use a lot
about mental health we still use a lot of words I mad man psych ward nutcase
of words I mad man psych ward nutcase
of words I mad man psych ward nutcase and and several others that are the
and and several others that are the
and and several others that are the thing that actually creates the stigma
thing that actually creates the stigma
thing that actually creates the stigma around mental health and I wasn’t even
around mental health and I wasn’t even
around mental health and I wasn’t even sure that I that I would be the right
sure that I that I would be the right
sure that I that I would be the right person to change the language but then I
person to change the language but then I
person to change the language but then I looked at all the different campaigns
looked at all the different campaigns
looked at all the different campaigns that they have in in the UK and in the
that they have in in the UK and in the
that they have in in the UK and in the US and in Denmark and all around the
US and in Denmark and all around the
US and in Denmark and all around the world actually and I thought well we can
world actually and I thought well we can
world actually and I thought well we can start sharing those pictures and those
start sharing those pictures and those
start sharing those pictures and those those stories with with young people in
those stories with with young people in
those stories with with young people in the Czech Republic and because they
the Czech Republic and because they
the Czech Republic and because they understand English and it’s going to be
understand English and it’s going to be
understand English and it’s going to be a right if we just share them and then I
a right if we just share them and then I
a right if we just share them and then I thought okay but that’s still not
thought okay but that’s still not
thought okay but that’s still not changing the language and it’s still
changing the language and it’s still
changing the language and it’s still something coming them from the outside
something coming them from the outside
something coming them from the outside and English is often the language that
and English is often the language that
and English is often the language that they use to work and not to relax and
they use to work and not to relax and
they use to work and not to relax and not to take care of themselves so what
not to take care of themselves so what
not to take care of themselves so what can we do about that I thought it would
can we do about that I thought it would
can we do about that I thought it would be good to start developing a language a
be good to start developing a language a
be good to start developing a language a dictionary a way of talking about mental
dictionary a way of talking about mental
dictionary a way of talking about mental health and well-being but also mental
health and well-being but also mental
health and well-being but also mental illness that could help people not feel
illness that could help people not feel
illness that could help people not feel ashamed of when they have problems and
ashamed of when they have problems and
ashamed of when they have problems and we started this project
we started this project
we started this project and people start people actually started
and people start people actually started
and people start people actually started sharing our materials they started
sharing our materials they started
sharing our materials they started sharing our small infographics and in
sharing our small infographics and in
sharing our small infographics and in about a month
about a month
about a month we had enough fans that tens of
we had enough fans that tens of
we had enough fans that tens of thousands of people have seen our
thousands of people have seen our
thousands of people have seen our materials but what was very important
materials but what was very important
materials but what was very important for us was that it was not only shared
for us was that it was not only shared
for us was that it was not only shared by young people that have nothing that
by young people that have nothing that
by young people that have nothing that it didn’t have anything to do with
it didn’t have anything to do with
it didn’t have anything to do with mental health before but it was also
mental health before but it was also
mental health before but it was also shared by professionals by psychologists
shared by professionals by psychologists
shared by professionals by psychologists by psychiatrists and they were coming to
by psychiatrists and they were coming to
by psychiatrists and they were coming to us saying whoa I didn’t have this kind
us saying whoa I didn’t have this kind
us saying whoa I didn’t have this kind of language I couldn’t even explain to
of language I couldn’t even explain to
of language I couldn’t even explain to my family what I was doing in a way that
my family what I was doing in a way that
my family what I was doing in a way that would it wouldn’t seem scary and they
would it wouldn’t seem scary and they
would it wouldn’t seem scary and they started sharing at hospitals mental
started sharing at hospitals mental
started sharing at hospitals mental health facilities started sharing our
health facilities started sharing our
health facilities started sharing our materials they started sharing the
materials they started sharing the
materials they started sharing the stories of people we collected and it
stories of people we collected and it
stories of people we collected and it was very it was very encouraging for us
was very it was very encouraging for us
was very it was very encouraging for us so right now when I was supposed to
so right now when I was supposed to
so right now when I was supposed to write an email about how I was lying in
write an email about how I was lying in
write an email about how I was lying in my bed and I couldn’t get up and I
my bed and I couldn’t get up and I
my bed and I couldn’t get up and I couldn’t write this bio that they wanted
couldn’t write this bio that they wanted
couldn’t write this bio that they wanted me to write and this draft of the speech
me to write and this draft of the speech
me to write and this draft of the speech I already had some sort of idea how I
I already had some sort of idea how I
I already had some sort of idea how I could write it and I wrote it and I was
could write it and I wrote it and I was
could write it and I wrote it and I was just praying really that in several
just praying really that in several
just praying really that in several months I’ll be ok and I’ll be able to
months I’ll be ok and I’ll be able to
months I’ll be ok and I’ll be able to stand here and talk to you well because
stand here and talk to you well because
stand here and talk to you well because I already had my ways and I had my
I already had my ways and I had my
I already had my ways and I had my psychiatrist on on the phone and I had
psychiatrist on on the phone and I had
psychiatrist on on the phone and I had my mats I was able to and two months I
my mats I was able to and two months I
my mats I was able to and two months I was able to recover which was much much
was able to recover which was much much
was able to recover which was much much faster than I was used to before and
faster than I was used to before and
faster than I was used to before and even though I’m not sure I can still say
even though I’m not sure I can still say
even though I’m not sure I can still say that I love my brain I don’t really hate
that I love my brain I don’t really hate
that I love my brain I don’t really hate it I think the relationship now it’s
it I think the relationship now it’s
it I think the relationship now it’s it’s complicated
it’s complicated
it’s complicated that’s my relationship status with my
that’s my relationship status with my
that’s my relationship status with my brain
brain
brain right now but I think that that’s
right now but I think that that’s
right now but I think that that’s alright I I still think it’s very very
alright I I still think it’s very very
alright I I still think it’s very very important to acknowledge it and to not
important to acknowledge it and to not
important to acknowledge it and to not be ashamed of it and to talk about it
be ashamed of it and to talk about it
be ashamed of it and to talk about it and these are the 22 people that we
and these are the 22 people that we
and these are the 22 people that we trained over the past year to go around
trained over the past year to go around
trained over the past year to go around check a public to go around high schools
check a public to go around high schools
check a public to go around high schools to talk to teenagers to develop their
to talk to teenagers to develop their
to talk to teenagers to develop their diction mental health dictionaries the
diction mental health dictionaries the
diction mental health dictionaries the language that they talk about their
language that they talk about their
language that they talk about their mental health and well-being and I’m
mental health and well-being and I’m
mental health and well-being and I’m really proud of them because they come
really proud of them because they come
really proud of them because they come from the environment of the Czech system
from the environment of the Czech system
from the environment of the Czech system none of them except of about two of them
none of them except of about two of them
none of them except of about two of them studied abroad none of them ever seen
studied abroad none of them ever seen
studied abroad none of them ever seen the campaign’s that are going on there
the campaign’s that are going on there
the campaign’s that are going on there and they still are able after some
and they still are able after some
and they still are able after some training to go around and to spread the
training to go around and to spread the
training to go around and to spread the world and if there is one thing I would
world and if there is one thing I would
world and if there is one thing I would like to leave with today is that even if
like to leave with today is that even if
like to leave with today is that even if you can’t love your brain at the moment
you can’t love your brain at the moment
you can’t love your brain at the moment it’s all right and I would like to
it’s all right and I would like to
it’s all right and I would like to encourage you to think about your mental
encourage you to think about your mental
encourage you to think about your mental health to talk about it
health to talk about it
health to talk about it and to think about the language you use
and to think about the language you use
and to think about the language you use when talking about it thank you
when talking about it thank you
when talking about it thank you [Applause]
”
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