[Music] by the time you are done listening to
by the time you are done listening to
by the time you are done listening to this talk someone aged 15 to 24 will
this talk someone aged 15 to 24 will
this talk someone aged 15 to 24 will have killed themselves the reality of
have killed themselves the reality of
have killed themselves the reality of mental illness of anxiety and depression
mental illness of anxiety and depression
mental illness of anxiety and depression is worse than you may think today I’ll
is worse than you may think today I’ll
is worse than you may think today I’ll be talking about why people don’t come
be talking about why people don’t come
be talking about why people don’t come out about their mental problems why
out about their mental problems why
out about their mental problems why people get overwhelmed and what we as a
people get overwhelmed and what we as a
people get overwhelmed and what we as a society need to do to solve the
society need to do to solve the
society need to do to solve the underlying stigma that surrounds mental
underlying stigma that surrounds mental
underlying stigma that surrounds mental illness now a 2004 report by the World
illness now a 2004 report by the World
illness now a 2004 report by the World Health Organization look to rates of
Health Organization look to rates of
Health Organization look to rates of psychiatric treatment
psychiatric treatment
psychiatric treatment the results are unbelievable between 30
the results are unbelievable between 30
the results are unbelievable between 30 and 80 percent of people with mental
and 80 percent of people with mental
and 80 percent of people with mental health concerns never receive treatment
health concerns never receive treatment
health concerns never receive treatment depending on the illness and it’s
depending on the illness and it’s
depending on the illness and it’s generally acknowledged that these rates
generally acknowledged that these rates
generally acknowledged that these rates are lower than what’s actually going on
are lower than what’s actually going on
are lower than what’s actually going on because in the end some people just
because in the end some people just
because in the end some people just never speak out here’s why now there’s a
never speak out here’s why now there’s a
never speak out here’s why now there’s a list of eight reasons why people don’t
list of eight reasons why people don’t
list of eight reasons why people don’t talk out about the problems that they’re
talk out about the problems that they’re
talk out about the problems that they’re facing and which is really the crux of
facing and which is really the crux of
facing and which is really the crux of the problem and this applies from
the problem and this applies from
the problem and this applies from everything from suicide to panic
everything from suicide to panic
everything from suicide to panic disorders lack of insight limited
disorders lack of insight limited
disorders lack of insight limited awareness feelings of inadequacy
awareness feelings of inadequacy
awareness feelings of inadequacy distrust hopelessness unavailability
distrust hopelessness unavailability
distrust hopelessness unavailability practical barriers and fear and shame of
practical barriers and fear and shame of
practical barriers and fear and shame of these eight summit of them are either
these eight summit of them are either
these eight summit of them are either directly or indirectly related to stigma
directly or indirectly related to stigma
directly or indirectly related to stigma fear and shame is the most common reason
fear and shame is the most common reason
fear and shame is the most common reason why people don’t come out about their
why people don’t come out about their
why people don’t come out about their mental illness and it’s deeply
mental illness and it’s deeply
mental illness and it’s deeply intertwined with stigma there’s just so
intertwined with stigma there’s just so
intertwined with stigma there’s just so much negative stigma and just underlying
much negative stigma and just underlying
much negative stigma and just underlying discrimination surrounding mental
discrimination surrounding mental
discrimination surrounding mental illness and it stops people from ever
illness and it stops people from ever
illness and it stops people from ever coming out and another one of the
coming out and another one of the
coming out and another one of the biggest problems that we see is that
biggest problems that we see is that
biggest problems that we see is that some people don’t even understand how
some people don’t even understand how
some people don’t even understand how these illnesses work some of my friends
these illnesses work some of my friends
these illnesses work some of my friends think that having a panic disorder means
think that having a panic disorder means
think that having a panic disorder means you wake up one day and you’re like whoa
you wake up one day and you’re like whoa
you wake up one day and you’re like whoa I’m feeling anxious today and you know
I’m feeling anxious today and you know
I’m feeling anxious today and you know that’s just not how that works
that’s just not how that works
that’s just not how that works so to help everyone better understand
so to help everyone better understand
so to help everyone better understand how this works I’d like to present a
how this works I’d like to present a
how this works I’d like to present a story the story of David Fitzpatrick
story the story of David Fitzpatrick
story the story of David Fitzpatrick David Fitzpatrick grew up in Guilford
David Fitzpatrick grew up in Guilford
David Fitzpatrick grew up in Guilford Connecticut and during his late teens
Connecticut and during his late teens
Connecticut and during his late teens and early twenties he began the slow
and early twenties he began the slow
and early twenties he began the slow descent into mental illness and at worst
descent into mental illness and at worst
descent into mental illness and at worst times he would cut himself with razor
times he would cut himself with razor
times he would cut himself with razor blades cutting for those of you who
blades cutting for those of you who
blades cutting for those of you who don’t know is where you take a blade and
don’t know is where you take a blade and
don’t know is where you take a blade and you cut yourself to release stress or
you cut yourself to release stress or
you cut yourself to release stress or deal with anxiety generally without
deal with anxiety generally without
deal with anxiety generally without intent of suicide and it’s the most
intent of suicide and it’s the most
intent of suicide and it’s the most common form of self-injury and
common form of self-injury and
common form of self-injury and self-injury in general is a really
self-injury in general is a really
self-injury in general is a really unhealthy way to cope with these
unhealthy way to cope with these
unhealthy way to cope with these problems and David doesn’t interview you
problems and David doesn’t interview you
problems and David doesn’t interview you want to hold on to it because it’s a
want to hold on to it because it’s a
want to hold on to it because it’s a great way to cope obviously it’s not a
great way to cope obviously it’s not a
great way to cope obviously it’s not a great way to cope but that’s how I felt
great way to cope but that’s how I felt
great way to cope but that’s how I felt I felt like just relieve stress better
I felt like just relieve stress better
I felt like just relieve stress better than anything later he says for me it
than anything later he says for me it
than anything later he says for me it was just a growing depression and shame
was just a growing depression and shame
was just a growing depression and shame and self rage and loathing I got so
and self rage and loathing I got so
and self rage and loathing I got so overwhelmed I feel like I can’t tell
overwhelmed I feel like I can’t tell
overwhelmed I feel like I can’t tell anyone about this because it’s so
anyone about this because it’s so
anyone about this because it’s so bizarre and for a lot of people this is
bizarre and for a lot of people this is
bizarre and for a lot of people this is exactly how it goes David was just a
exactly how it goes David was just a
exactly how it goes David was just a teenager when this stuff started
teenager when this stuff started
teenager when this stuff started happening to him and we were unable to
happening to him and we were unable to
happening to him and we were unable to unable to intervene because we as a
unable to intervene because we as a
unable to intervene because we as a society have stigmatized mental illness
society have stigmatized mental illness
society have stigmatized mental illness we refused to talk about it
we refused to talk about it
we refused to talk about it we think lesser of people that are
we think lesser of people that are
we think lesser of people that are affected by it we are never taught how
affected by it we are never taught how
affected by it we are never taught how to cope with it and how common it is in
to cope with it and how common it is in
to cope with it and how common it is in school you have tons of people resorting
school you have tons of people resorting
school you have tons of people resorting to things like cutting and self-injury
to things like cutting and self-injury
to things like cutting and self-injury when there are much better ways to cope
when there are much better ways to cope
when there are much better ways to cope now I too suffer from some form of
now I too suffer from some form of
now I too suffer from some form of mental illness I have a panic disorder
mental illness I have a panic disorder
mental illness I have a panic disorder where I’ll get anxiety attacks over the
where I’ll get anxiety attacks over the
where I’ll get anxiety attacks over the smallest things from almost failing a
smallest things from almost failing a
smallest things from almost failing a test to almost getting detention from
test to almost getting detention from
test to almost getting detention from being late to class and these reasons
being late to class and these reasons
being late to class and these reasons may seem laughable the most that’s
may seem laughable the most that’s
may seem laughable the most that’s exactly what makes it so hard to talk
exactly what makes it so hard to talk
exactly what makes it so hard to talk about because a lot of parents or
about because a lot of parents or
about because a lot of parents or there’s a lot of anxiety attacks they
there’s a lot of anxiety attacks they
there’s a lot of anxiety attacks they come from these
come from these
come from these all things and for a lot of people it’s
all things and for a lot of people it’s
all things and for a lot of people it’s really difficult to talk about because
really difficult to talk about because
really difficult to talk about because people don’t understand what it’s like
people don’t understand what it’s like
people don’t understand what it’s like now for me when I get an anxiety attack
now for me when I get an anxiety attack
now for me when I get an anxiety attack my heart rate will go above a hundred
my heart rate will go above a hundred
my heart rate will go above a hundred for around an hour of trouble writing
for around an hour of trouble writing
for around an hour of trouble writing doing anything that requires fine motor
doing anything that requires fine motor
doing anything that requires fine motor skills I can’t lift heavy things and my
skills I can’t lift heavy things and my
skills I can’t lift heavy things and my entire body is just shaking it’s pretty
entire body is just shaking it’s pretty
entire body is just shaking it’s pretty bad and the thing is it’s really
bad and the thing is it’s really
bad and the thing is it’s really difficult to talk about because a lot of
difficult to talk about because a lot of
difficult to talk about because a lot of people don’t understand how this works a
people don’t understand how this works a
people don’t understand how this works a lot of people don’t understand what
lot of people don’t understand what
lot of people don’t understand what people like me go through and so me I
people like me go through and so me I
people like me go through and so me I feel like I’m just gonna get judged or
feel like I’m just gonna get judged or
feel like I’m just gonna get judged or laughed at but for me this started back
laughed at but for me this started back
laughed at but for me this started back when I was in first grade and so in
when I was in first grade and so in
when I was in first grade and so in third grade I got the help I needed when
third grade I got the help I needed when
third grade I got the help I needed when a teacher came to me and talked to me
a teacher came to me and talked to me
a teacher came to me and talked to me and figured out what was going on
and figured out what was going on
and figured out what was going on because I didn’t even know what was
because I didn’t even know what was
because I didn’t even know what was happening to me
happening to me
happening to me so I got the help I needed however this
so I got the help I needed however this
so I got the help I needed however this rarely happens for anybody mental
rarely happens for anybody mental
rarely happens for anybody mental illness in my generation has gotten
illness in my generation has gotten
illness in my generation has gotten worse and worse however treatment levels
worse and worse however treatment levels
worse and worse however treatment levels have remained constant this needs to
have remained constant this needs to
have remained constant this needs to change so what can we as a community as
change so what can we as a community as
change so what can we as a community as a nation as a world what can we do to
a nation as a world what can we do to
a nation as a world what can we do to solve the underlying stigma that
solve the underlying stigma that
solve the underlying stigma that surrounds mental illness well we need to
surrounds mental illness well we need to
surrounds mental illness well we need to start at the root where is this stigma
start at the root where is this stigma
start at the root where is this stigma coming from why do people know so little
coming from why do people know so little
coming from why do people know so little the answer lies within our education
the answer lies within our education
the answer lies within our education system health classes across the nation
system health classes across the nation
system health classes across the nation either teach too little or too late the
either teach too little or too late the
either teach too little or too late the public is misinformed and the later we
public is misinformed and the later we
public is misinformed and the later we teach these concepts the less likely
teach these concepts the less likely
teach these concepts the less likely they are to actually make a difference
they are to actually make a difference
they are to actually make a difference people develop their stereotypes early
people develop their stereotypes early
people develop their stereotypes early and we need to thus intervene early we
and we need to thus intervene early we
and we need to thus intervene early we need to teach students about what mental
need to teach students about what mental
need to teach students about what mental illness is like we need to teach
illness is like we need to teach
illness is like we need to teach students about how to cope with these
students about how to cope with these
students about how to cope with these types of things instead of resorting to
types of things instead of resorting to
types of things instead of resorting to things like self-injury that they learn
things like self-injury that they learn
things like self-injury that they learn about on the Internet we need to teach
about on the Internet we need to teach
about on the Internet we need to teach students about what they may go through
students about what they may go through
students about what they may go through and trust me this type of education is
and trust me this type of education is
and trust me this type of education is worth it one in five students go through
worth it one in five students go through
worth it one in five students go through some sort of severe mental illness at
some sort of severe mental illness at
some sort of severe mental illness at this time and everyone goes through some
this time and everyone goes through some
this time and everyone goes through some sort of mood swings and everyone’s in
sort of mood swings and everyone’s in
sort of mood swings and everyone’s in there
there
there we affected through friends family and
we affected through friends family and
we affected through friends family and people we know so really the best place
people we know so really the best place
people we know so really the best place to start is in schools if we can create
to start is in schools if we can create
to start is in schools if we can create a nationwide standard for mental health
a nationwide standard for mental health
a nationwide standard for mental health education we can go far in curing the
education we can go far in curing the
education we can go far in curing the stigma that surrounds mental illness and
stigma that surrounds mental illness and
stigma that surrounds mental illness and help teenagers feel less marginalized
help teenagers feel less marginalized
help teenagers feel less marginalized and ignored make sure that their voices
and ignored make sure that their voices
and ignored make sure that their voices are heard because in the end that’s what
are heard because in the end that’s what
are heard because in the end that’s what really matters
really matters
really matters now for those of you out and out there
now for those of you out and out there
now for those of you out and out there in the audience who are still skeptical
in the audience who are still skeptical
in the audience who are still skeptical about stigma being a major issue
about stigma being a major issue
about stigma being a major issue consider this 20 years ago someone
consider this 20 years ago someone
consider this 20 years ago someone wanted to bowl you have to do it to your
wanted to bowl you have to do it to your
wanted to bowl you have to do it to your face now they can do it anonymously
face now they can do it anonymously
face now they can do it anonymously hiding behind a computer screen thirty
hiding behind a computer screen thirty
hiding behind a computer screen thirty years ago advanced classes and getting
years ago advanced classes and getting
years ago advanced classes and getting into a top college weren’t as hard and
into a top college weren’t as hard and
into a top college weren’t as hard and weren’t as big of a deal as they are now
weren’t as big of a deal as they are now
weren’t as big of a deal as they are now the situation has changed and we need to
the situation has changed and we need to
the situation has changed and we need to act off another thing we need to do is
act off another thing we need to do is
act off another thing we need to do is we need to essentially make schools a
we need to essentially make schools a
we need to essentially make schools a safer place for students to be in and
safer place for students to be in and
safer place for students to be in and share their thoughts and share what
share their thoughts and share what
share their thoughts and share what they’re going through because for me I
they’re going through because for me I
they’re going through because for me I was too scared to tell anyone about what
was too scared to tell anyone about what
was too scared to tell anyone about what was going on and for a lot of people a
was going on and for a lot of people a
was going on and for a lot of people a lot of their anxiety attacks come from
lot of their anxiety attacks come from
lot of their anxiety attacks come from school for me it’s the only thing that
school for me it’s the only thing that
school for me it’s the only thing that creates anxiety and that’s really the
creates anxiety and that’s really the
creates anxiety and that’s really the thing and I got lucky a teacher came to
thing and I got lucky a teacher came to
thing and I got lucky a teacher came to me but this rarely happens and if you
me but this rarely happens and if you
me but this rarely happens and if you look at a school like the school I go to
look at a school like the school I go to
look at a school like the school I go to Glen Cove High School we have thousands
Glen Cove High School we have thousands
Glen Cove High School we have thousands of students you can’t have teachers
of students you can’t have teachers
of students you can’t have teachers going to every student it just doesn’t
going to every student it just doesn’t
going to every student it just doesn’t work so we need to increase trust in the
work so we need to increase trust in the
work so we need to increase trust in the school environment so that way students
school environment so that way students
school environment so that way students feel safer and they feel like they have
feel safer and they feel like they have
feel safer and they feel like they have someone that they can go and talk to
someone that they can go and talk to
someone that they can go and talk to about their concerns finally we need to
about their concerns finally we need to
about their concerns finally we need to look at this from a financial viewpoint
look at this from a financial viewpoint
look at this from a financial viewpoint if four forms don’t get funded then
if four forms don’t get funded then
if four forms don’t get funded then reforms don’t happen one in five of our
reforms don’t happen one in five of our
reforms don’t happen one in five of our students goes through some sort of
students goes through some sort of
students goes through some sort of severe mental illness and yet only four
severe mental illness and yet only four
severe mental illness and yet only four percent of our health budget is directed
percent of our health budget is directed
percent of our health budget is directed towards mental illness for all ages we
towards mental illness for all ages we
towards mental illness for all ages we need our budget to reflect the types of
need our budget to reflect the types of
need our budget to reflect the types of problems and the types of situations
problems and the types of situations
problems and the types of situations that weird
that weird
that weird in our country it’s time to change our
in our country it’s time to change our
in our country it’s time to change our budget to reflect the problems that
budget to reflect the problems that
budget to reflect the problems that we’re going through so as a society we
we’re going through so as a society we
we’re going through so as a society we have ignored mental illness we refuse to
have ignored mental illness we refuse to
have ignored mental illness we refuse to talk about it we refuse to put together
talk about it we refuse to put together
talk about it we refuse to put together reforms we refuse to fund it we
reforms we refuse to fund it we
reforms we refuse to fund it we stigmatize it to such a point where
stigmatize it to such a point where
stigmatize it to such a point where teenagers are afraid to talk out and
teenagers are afraid to talk out and
teenagers are afraid to talk out and refuse to ask for help we as a society
refuse to ask for help we as a society
refuse to ask for help we as a society cannot continue to fail our younger
cannot continue to fail our younger
cannot continue to fail our younger generation it’s time to lift the veil
generation it’s time to lift the veil
generation it’s time to lift the veil thank you
thank you
thank you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
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