can you guess what all of these people have in common they all struggle with
have in common they all struggle with
have in common they all struggle with illnesses that don’t discriminate based
illnesses that don’t discriminate based
illnesses that don’t discriminate based on age sex ethnicity socioeconomic
on age sex ethnicity socioeconomic
on age sex ethnicity socioeconomic status occupation or political party
status occupation or political party
status occupation or political party they all struggle or have struggled with
they all struggle or have struggled with
they all struggle or have struggled with mental illness my daughter Anna had an
mental illness my daughter Anna had an
mental illness my daughter Anna had an eating disorder anorexia nervosa her
eating disorder anorexia nervosa her
eating disorder anorexia nervosa her battle started when she was 16 she had
battle started when she was 16 she had
battle started when she was 16 she had an illness that was widely misunderstood
an illness that was widely misunderstood
an illness that was widely misunderstood I remember the stunning lack of
I remember the stunning lack of
I remember the stunning lack of understanding by people that were trying
understanding by people that were trying
understanding by people that were trying to be helpful
to be helpful
to be helpful Kitty make her eat Wow
Kitty make her eat Wow
Kitty make her eat Wow thanks I didn’t think of that she was
thanks I didn’t think of that she was
thanks I didn’t think of that she was starving
tragically Anna died by suicide on
tragically Anna died by suicide on February 17 2000 he died of an illness
February 17 2000 he died of an illness
February 17 2000 he died of an illness that has the highest mortality rate of
that has the highest mortality rate of
that has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness when Anna died my
any mental illness when Anna died my
any mental illness when Anna died my world shattered and there’s really no
world shattered and there’s really no
world shattered and there’s really no getting away from the pain but I found
getting away from the pain but I found
getting away from the pain but I found my purpose and and I made a vow to work
my purpose and and I made a vow to work
my purpose and and I made a vow to work every single day to erase the stigma
every single day to erase the stigma
every single day to erase the stigma behind these illnesses and to make sure
behind these illnesses and to make sure
behind these illnesses and to make sure that other people with similar stories
that other people with similar stories
that other people with similar stories and differently I remember thinking
and differently I remember thinking
and differently I remember thinking early on how could this amazing spirited
early on how could this amazing spirited
early on how could this amazing spirited young woman go from fully alive to dead
young woman go from fully alive to dead
young woman go from fully alive to dead I began reading everything I could just
I began reading everything I could just
I began reading everything I could just trying to understand it I knew Anna
trying to understand it I knew Anna
trying to understand it I knew Anna didn’t choose to have an eating disorder
didn’t choose to have an eating disorder
didn’t choose to have an eating disorder any more than other people with mental
any more than other people with mental
any more than other people with mental illness choose to be sick but why is it
illness choose to be sick but why is it
illness choose to be sick but why is it so much stigma attached to mental
so much stigma attached to mental
so much stigma attached to mental illness when it’s not theirs
illness when it’s not theirs
illness when it’s not theirs stigma to have other diseases like
stigma to have other diseases like
stigma to have other diseases like cancer it’s not unusual to hear people
cancer it’s not unusual to hear people
cancer it’s not unusual to hear people with mental illness described as weak
with mental illness described as weak
with mental illness described as weak lazy violent unmotivated and conversely
lazy violent unmotivated and conversely
lazy violent unmotivated and conversely people battling cancer are described as
people battling cancer are described as
people battling cancer are described as strong brave determined and courageous
strong brave determined and courageous
strong brave determined and courageous it all has to do with what is perceived
it all has to do with what is perceived
it all has to do with what is perceived to be under a person’s control a huge
to be under a person’s control a huge
to be under a person’s control a huge misconception for all mental illness
misconception for all mental illness
misconception for all mental illness it’s been well documented that stigma is
it’s been well documented that stigma is
it’s been well documented that stigma is a deterrent to seeking treatment and
a deterrent to seeking treatment and
a deterrent to seeking treatment and untreated mental illness robs people of
untreated mental illness robs people of
untreated mental illness robs people of the very things that define quality of
the very things that define quality of
the very things that define quality of life so not long ago I met the
life so not long ago I met the
life so not long ago I met the grief-stricken parents of a young woman
grief-stricken parents of a young woman
grief-stricken parents of a young woman named Leslie Leslie went to a hospital
named Leslie Leslie went to a hospital
named Leslie Leslie went to a hospital complaining of stomach pain she admitted
complaining of stomach pain she admitted
complaining of stomach pain she admitted that she had bulimia and that she had
that she had bulimia and that she had
that she had bulimia and that she had benched rather than treating her
benched rather than treating her
benched rather than treating her symptoms the doctor said you did this to
symptoms the doctor said you did this to
symptoms the doctor said you did this to yourself you have to fix it yourself
yourself you have to fix it yourself
yourself you have to fix it yourself Leslie stomach burst she died she
Leslie stomach burst she died she
Leslie stomach burst she died she couldn’t fix it herself imagine taking
couldn’t fix it herself imagine taking
couldn’t fix it herself imagine taking your child to an emergency room with a
your child to an emergency room with a
your child to an emergency room with a broken leg and the doctors saying to you
broken leg and the doctors saying to you
broken leg and the doctors saying to you she has to fix it himself because he
she has to fix it himself because he
she has to fix it himself because he fell off his bike it’s his fault
fell off his bike it’s his fault
fell off his bike it’s his fault this is stigma at its worst
this is stigma at its worst
this is stigma at its worst this is stigma that discriminates and
this is stigma that discriminates and
this is stigma that discriminates and and and this the stigma is everywhere
and and this the stigma is everywhere
and and this the stigma is everywhere it’s in the media it’s in the words we
it’s in the media it’s in the words we
it’s in the media it’s in the words we use and it’s in our attitudes three out
use and it’s in our attitudes three out
use and it’s in our attitudes three out of four people that struggle with mental
of four people that struggle with mental
of four people that struggle with mental illness report feeling stigmatized have
illness report feeling stigmatized have
illness report feeling stigmatized have you ever called anybody crazy did you
you ever called anybody crazy did you
you ever called anybody crazy did you mean that in a compassionate way
I asked you to stop and think before
I asked you to stop and think before casually using those words because they
casually using those words because they
casually using those words because they are demeaning and they contribute to
are demeaning and they contribute to
are demeaning and they contribute to stigma I think people use those words
stigma I think people use those words
stigma I think people use those words because they don’t truly understand that
because they don’t truly understand that
because they don’t truly understand that mental illnesses are real illnesses
mental illnesses are real illnesses
mental illnesses are real illnesses brain chemistry contributes to brain
brain chemistry contributes to brain
brain chemistry contributes to brain illness research has proven that eating
illness research has proven that eating
illness research has proven that eating disorders just like schizophrenia and
disorders just like schizophrenia and
disorders just like schizophrenia and depression our brain based illnesses
depression our brain based illnesses
depression our brain based illnesses research has also shown us that one of
research has also shown us that one of
research has also shown us that one of the contributing factors to developing
the contributing factors to developing
the contributing factors to developing an eating disorder is a distillation of
an eating disorder is a distillation of
an eating disorder is a distillation of the inhibition and the reward center in
the inhibition and the reward center in
the inhibition and the reward center in the brain and the dopamine which is a
the brain and the dopamine which is a
the brain and the dopamine which is a neurotransmitter is altered in people
neurotransmitter is altered in people
neurotransmitter is altered in people that develop eating disorders this
that develop eating disorders this
that develop eating disorders this matters this is important because when
matters this is important because when
matters this is important because when we understand what’s going on in the
we understand what’s going on in the
we understand what’s going on in the brain we can develop truly effective
brain we can develop truly effective
brain we can develop truly effective treatments and save lives and even find
treatments and save lives and even find
treatments and save lives and even find cures and when people truly understand
cures and when people truly understand
cures and when people truly understand that mental illnesses aren’t choices
that mental illnesses aren’t choices
that mental illnesses aren’t choices then it reduces stigma and reducing
then it reduces stigma and reducing
then it reduces stigma and reducing stigma will save lives however much more
stigma will save lives however much more
stigma will save lives however much more money is necessary in order for us to
money is necessary in order for us to
money is necessary in order for us to fully understand mental illness so the
fully understand mental illness so the
fully understand mental illness so the National Institute of Health spent six
National Institute of Health spent six
National Institute of Health spent six hundred and seventy four million dollars
hundred and seventy four million dollars
hundred and seventy four million dollars on breast cancer research that’s good
on breast cancer research that’s good
on breast cancer research that’s good and only forty six million dollars on
and only forty six million dollars on
and only forty six million dollars on suicide research and the number of
suicide research and the number of
suicide research and the number of deaths from suicide is higher than the
deaths from suicide is higher than the
deaths from suicide is higher than the number of deaths from breast cancer
number of deaths from breast cancer
number of deaths from breast cancer to illustrate this some more have have
to illustrate this some more have have
to illustrate this some more have have you or ever participated in a breast
you or ever participated in a breast
you or ever participated in a breast cancer walk to raise awareness or funds
cancer walk to raise awareness or funds
cancer walk to raise awareness or funds have you or anybody you know ever
have you or anybody you know ever
have you or anybody you know ever participated in a walk or event for
participated in a walk or event for
participated in a walk or event for depression suicide addiction eating
depression suicide addiction eating
depression suicide addiction eating disorders or really any mental illness
disorders or really any mental illness
disorders or really any mental illness this lack of funding and fundraising is
this lack of funding and fundraising is
this lack of funding and fundraising is outrageous once we have more funding for
outrageous once we have more funding for
outrageous once we have more funding for mental illness we will be able to
mental illness we will be able to
mental illness we will be able to develop cures and we’ll be able to
develop cures and we’ll be able to
develop cures and we’ll be able to identify people early we’ll be able to
identify people early we’ll be able to
identify people early we’ll be able to identify high-risk behaviors and in the
identify high-risk behaviors and in the
identify high-risk behaviors and in the end I think the suicide rate will go way
end I think the suicide rate will go way
end I think the suicide rate will go way down so this is my mission when Anna
down so this is my mission when Anna
down so this is my mission when Anna died our family started a foundation to
died our family started a foundation to
died our family started a foundation to fight eating disorders it’s now called
fight eating disorders it’s now called
fight eating disorders it’s now called the Emily program foundation we opened
the Emily program foundation we opened
the Emily program foundation we opened the first residential treatment center
the first residential treatment center
the first residential treatment center for eating disorders in Minnesota I
for eating disorders in Minnesota I
for eating disorders in Minnesota I became an advocate and at the urging of
became an advocate and at the urging of
became an advocate and at the urging of Paul Wellstone I went to Washington DC
Paul Wellstone I went to Washington DC
Paul Wellstone I went to Washington DC and helped start the eating disorders
and helped start the eating disorders
and helped start the eating disorders coalition I have been traveling to DC
coalition I have been traveling to DC
coalition I have been traveling to DC for the past 17 years with thousands of
for the past 17 years with thousands of
for the past 17 years with thousands of advocates from all over the United
advocates from all over the United
advocates from all over the United States all fighting eating disorders we
States all fighting eating disorders we
States all fighting eating disorders we were working on a bill called the Anna
were working on a bill called the Anna
were working on a bill called the Anna Westin Act the purpose of the Anna
Westin Act the purpose of the Anna
Westin Act the purpose of the Anna Westin Act is to improve access to care
Westin Act is to improve access to care
Westin Act is to improve access to care and educate all healthcare professionals
and educate all healthcare professionals
and educate all healthcare professionals and the general public on eating
and the general public on eating
and the general public on eating disorders in late 2016 with the help of
disorders in late 2016 with the help of
disorders in late 2016 with the help of senator Amy Klobuchar we were able to
senator Amy Klobuchar we were able to
senator Amy Klobuchar we were able to get the language from the Anna Westin
get the language from the Anna Westin
get the language from the Anna Westin Act into the 21st century cures bill
Act into the 21st century cures bill
Act into the 21st century cures bill that President Obama signed into law on
that President Obama signed into law on
that President Obama signed into law on December 13th
December 13th
December 13th [Applause]
for the first time in history Congress
for the first time in history Congress passed eating disorder specific
passed eating disorder specific
passed eating disorder specific legislation I had the honor of being in
legislation I had the honor of being in
legislation I had the honor of being in the room when the President signed the
the room when the President signed the
the room when the President signed the legislation I thanked him for bringing
legislation I thanked him for bringing
legislation I thanked him for bringing hope and change so it started as a
hope and change so it started as a
hope and change so it started as a nearly unbearable tragedy 17 years ago
nearly unbearable tragedy 17 years ago
nearly unbearable tragedy 17 years ago ended with meaningful legislation that
ended with meaningful legislation that
ended with meaningful legislation that will help millions how did we do the
will help millions how did we do the
will help millions how did we do the seemingly impossible we said something’s
seemingly impossible we said something’s
seemingly impossible we said something’s got to change this leads me to what I am
got to change this leads me to what I am
got to change this leads me to what I am for we are all affected by mental
for we are all affected by mental
for we are all affected by mental illness and we all have to do our part
illness and we all have to do our part
illness and we all have to do our part to make it okay to talk about to seek
to make it okay to talk about to seek
to make it okay to talk about to seek treatment and to restore the peace and
treatment and to restore the peace and
treatment and to restore the peace and the health and the dignity and the hope
the health and the dignity and the hope
the health and the dignity and the hope for the millions of people who suffer
for the millions of people who suffer
for the millions of people who suffer what I’m asking you to do is talk listen
what I’m asking you to do is talk listen
what I’m asking you to do is talk listen and learn about mental illness we can
and learn about mental illness we can
and learn about mental illness we can all be advocates in our homes in our
all be advocates in our homes in our
all be advocates in our homes in our schools in our businesses and in our
schools in our businesses and in our
schools in our businesses and in our communities my family refused to hide in
communities my family refused to hide in
communities my family refused to hide in tuck and whispers about Anna’s illness
tuck and whispers about Anna’s illness
tuck and whispers about Anna’s illness and death we refuse to let stigma and
and death we refuse to let stigma and
and death we refuse to let stigma and shame silence us we held up mental
shame silence us we held up mental
shame silence us we held up mental illness is something to be discussed and
illness is something to be discussed and
illness is something to be discussed and treated not whispered about shamed or
treated not whispered about shamed or
treated not whispered about shamed or made fun of in these troubled times what
made fun of in these troubled times what
made fun of in these troubled times what are you for I challenge you to find your
are you for I challenge you to find your
are you for I challenge you to find your passion and use your voice join me stand
passion and use your voice join me stand
passion and use your voice join me stand up to make stigma a thing of the past or
up to make stigma a thing of the past or
up to make stigma a thing of the past or join a cause that’s important to you
join a cause that’s important to you
join a cause that’s important to you because the truth is there is no hope
because the truth is there is no hope
because the truth is there is no hope without action thank you
without action thank you
without action thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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