a year ago I was in the psychiatric ward at st. Paul’s Hospital when you hear
at st. Paul’s Hospital when you hear
at st. Paul’s Hospital when you hear this what do you think of me am i less
this what do you think of me am i less
this what do you think of me am i less worthy more suspect I have 20 years
worthy more suspect I have 20 years
worthy more suspect I have 20 years experience as a communications
experience as a communications
experience as a communications professional yet with this new diagnosis
professional yet with this new diagnosis
professional yet with this new diagnosis of bipolar disorder I fear people may
of bipolar disorder I fear people may
of bipolar disorder I fear people may think I’m incompetent not worth hiring
think I’m incompetent not worth hiring
think I’m incompetent not worth hiring if I told you a year ago I was in the
if I told you a year ago I was in the
if I told you a year ago I was in the cancer ward would I worry about stigma
cancer ward would I worry about stigma
cancer ward would I worry about stigma then why is there a difference I don’t
then why is there a difference I don’t
then why is there a difference I don’t fault you for any prejudice I’ve been
fault you for any prejudice I’ve been
fault you for any prejudice I’ve been battling my own self stigma I mean what
battling my own self stigma I mean what
battling my own self stigma I mean what kind of person ends up in the mental
kind of person ends up in the mental
kind of person ends up in the mental health ward a crazy person right that
health ward a crazy person right that
health ward a crazy person right that can’t be me ironically I had been
can’t be me ironically I had been
can’t be me ironically I had been developing a mental health webseries for
developing a mental health webseries for
developing a mental health webseries for a few years prior to my hospitalization
a few years prior to my hospitalization
a few years prior to my hospitalization I felt compelled to do this following
I felt compelled to do this following
I felt compelled to do this following the death of my friend Barb’s daughter
the death of my friend Barb’s daughter
the death of my friend Barb’s daughter by suicide
hayden was 16 as a communications expert
hayden was 16 as a communications expert I thought I could offer something
I thought I could offer something
I thought I could offer something meaningful to help people turns out I
meaningful to help people turns out I
meaningful to help people turns out I needed some of my own medicine when you
needed some of my own medicine when you
needed some of my own medicine when you have a breakdown or a manic episode like
have a breakdown or a manic episode like
have a breakdown or a manic episode like I did one of the misconceptions is that
I did one of the misconceptions is that
I did one of the misconceptions is that you suddenly become less intelligent my
you suddenly become less intelligent my
you suddenly become less intelligent my mind went to the wild side but my IQ
mind went to the wild side but my IQ
mind went to the wild side but my IQ didn’t drop so I’m in the hospital
didn’t drop so I’m in the hospital
didn’t drop so I’m in the hospital looking around when it occurs to me I
looking around when it occurs to me I
looking around when it occurs to me I can investigate this place for our
can investigate this place for our
can investigate this place for our webseries
normally documentary film producers are
normally documentary film producers are not welcome to tour your local mental
not welcome to tour your local mental
not welcome to tour your local mental health ward there are privacy concerns
health ward there are privacy concerns
health ward there are privacy concerns but often the reports from the inside
but often the reports from the inside
but often the reports from the inside aren’t entirely glowing in terms of how
aren’t entirely glowing in terms of how
aren’t entirely glowing in terms of how the system is working or rather not
the system is working or rather not
the system is working or rather not working very clever to get admitted that
another insight bipolar hmm there’s a
another insight bipolar hmm there’s a box on grant applications disabled tick
box on grant applications disabled tick
box on grant applications disabled tick might get us funding to finish our
might get us funding to finish our
might get us funding to finish our project it wasn’t all silver linings
project it wasn’t all silver linings
project it wasn’t all silver linings though I feared what this new bipolar
though I feared what this new bipolar
though I feared what this new bipolar label would cost me I was the same
label would cost me I was the same
label would cost me I was the same person but the world would surely view
person but the world would surely view
person but the world would surely view me differently I had to lean on my
me differently I had to lean on my
me differently I had to lean on my interviews with mental health advocates
interviews with mental health advocates
interviews with mental health advocates to keep myself from believing the lies
to keep myself from believing the lies
to keep myself from believing the lies that society tells us about mental
that society tells us about mental
that society tells us about mental illness the point about illness is I’m
illness the point about illness is I’m
illness the point about illness is I’m sick so what needs to be the approach
sick so what needs to be the approach
sick so what needs to be the approach right I have good days I have bad days
right I have good days I have bad days
right I have good days I have bad days so what I like the tone of that defiant
so what I like the tone of that defiant
so what I like the tone of that defiant it takes the power away from this stigma
it takes the power away from this stigma
it takes the power away from this stigma can you imagine going to a mental health
can you imagine going to a mental health
can you imagine going to a mental health unit and going I’m gonna go transform
unit and going I’m gonna go transform
unit and going I’m gonna go transform and everybody backing you up behind that
and everybody backing you up behind that
and everybody backing you up behind that and understanding that and welcoming you
and understanding that and welcoming you
and understanding that and welcoming you in there as you walk in the door and
you know that people are met with that
you know that people are met with that hope not you know not this despair that
hope not you know not this despair that
hope not you know not this despair that your crazy mental whatever that you’re
your crazy mental whatever that you’re
your crazy mental whatever that you’re you’re actually brilliant you’re a
you’re actually brilliant you’re a
you’re actually brilliant you’re a biological being going through a
biological being going through a
biological being going through a transformation what if my breakdown was
transformation what if my breakdown was
transformation what if my breakdown was actually the prelude to a breakthrough
actually the prelude to a breakthrough
actually the prelude to a breakthrough one of the drivers for me and working on
one of the drivers for me and working on
one of the drivers for me and working on this has been my father brilliant
this has been my father brilliant
this has been my father brilliant funny loving a good man he had bipolar
funny loving a good man he had bipolar
funny loving a good man he had bipolar disorder also my dad’s favorite cousin
disorder also my dad’s favorite cousin
disorder also my dad’s favorite cousin Lorna was sent to a mental asylum as a
Lorna was sent to a mental asylum as a
Lorna was sent to a mental asylum as a teenager and never spoken of again the
teenager and never spoken of again the
teenager and never spoken of again the lesson it’s not safe to be crazy you
lesson it’s not safe to be crazy you
lesson it’s not safe to be crazy you will be a source of shame to your family
will be a source of shame to your family
will be a source of shame to your family you will be abandoned my dad would not
you will be abandoned my dad would not
you will be abandoned my dad would not identify as having bipolar disorder
identify as having bipolar disorder
identify as having bipolar disorder he lived without treatment my dad was in
he lived without treatment my dad was in
he lived without treatment my dad was in a manic episode when he died of a heart
a manic episode when he died of a heart
a manic episode when he died of a heart attack four years ago I believe at least
attack four years ago I believe at least
attack four years ago I believe at least in part that stigma killed my dad this
in part that stigma killed my dad this
in part that stigma killed my dad this has to stop it starts with me I refuse
has to stop it starts with me I refuse
has to stop it starts with me I refuse to see myself as less worthy because my
to see myself as less worthy because my
to see myself as less worthy because my brain works differently and I don’t want
brain works differently and I don’t want
brain works differently and I don’t want to stand under the mental health
to stand under the mental health
to stand under the mental health umbrella as it is now so I propose a
umbrella as it is now so I propose a
umbrella as it is now so I propose a makeover
I’m not suggesting that we dress up a
I’m not suggesting that we dress up a dysfunctional system with lipstick and
dysfunctional system with lipstick and
dysfunctional system with lipstick and call it a day in marketing we would
call it a day in marketing we would
call it a day in marketing we would address the product itself if it was
address the product itself if it was
address the product itself if it was failing so the work of mental health
failing so the work of mental health
failing so the work of mental health reform still has to be done what I can
reform still has to be done what I can
reform still has to be done what I can offer though is how to position mental
offer though is how to position mental
offer though is how to position mental health in a more positive way there are
health in a more positive way there are
health in a more positive way there are four essential actions we can take to
four essential actions we can take to
four essential actions we can take to begin shifting our cultural narrative
begin shifting our cultural narrative
begin shifting our cultural narrative one set the tone to change the narrative
one set the tone to change the narrative
one set the tone to change the narrative three find common ground
three find common ground
three find common ground four focus on outcomes set the tone in
four focus on outcomes set the tone in
four focus on outcomes set the tone in marketing this means establishing the
marketing this means establishing the
marketing this means establishing the mood or attitude associated with the
mood or attitude associated with the
mood or attitude associated with the brand or product
brand or product
brand or product I choose fierce compassion as the tone
I choose fierce compassion as the tone
I choose fierce compassion as the tone for rebranding mental health fierce
for rebranding mental health fierce
for rebranding mental health fierce compassion means heartfelt and powerful
compassion means heartfelt and powerful
compassion means heartfelt and powerful action fierce we have to stand up to
action fierce we have to stand up to
action fierce we have to stand up to attitudes and beliefs that do not serve
attitudes and beliefs that do not serve
attitudes and beliefs that do not serve us and to a system that is failing
us and to a system that is failing
us and to a system that is failing mental health is the orphan of the
mental health is the orphan of the
mental health is the orphan of the healthcare system meanwhile depression
healthcare system meanwhile depression
healthcare system meanwhile depression is the leading cause of ill health and
is the leading cause of ill health and
is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide yet we’re not going
disability worldwide yet we’re not going
disability worldwide yet we’re not going to deal with it because of stigma stigma
to deal with it because of stigma stigma
to deal with it because of stigma stigma is a bully that needs to be put in its
is a bully that needs to be put in its
is a bully that needs to be put in its place and governments and the health
place and governments and the health
place and governments and the health care system must be held accountable for
care system must be held accountable for
care system must be held accountable for their failure to adequately fund and
their failure to adequately fund and
their failure to adequately fund and respond to this global crisis compassion
being cruel toward anyone who is
being cruel toward anyone who is struggling with their mental health has
struggling with their mental health has
struggling with their mental health has been normalized in ours
been normalized in ours
been normalized in ours xiety our struggles are often treated as
xiety our struggles are often treated as
xiety our struggles are often treated as a joke or dismissed the healthcare
a joke or dismissed the healthcare
a joke or dismissed the healthcare system itself is not rooted in
system itself is not rooted in
system itself is not rooted in compassion at the emergency care level
compassion at the emergency care level
compassion at the emergency care level the standard is beds and meds which is
the standard is beds and meds which is
the standard is beds and meds which is not the same as care and counseling if
not the same as care and counseling if
not the same as care and counseling if we elevate our social norm to one that
we elevate our social norm to one that
we elevate our social norm to one that is more compassionate we set the stage
is more compassionate we set the stage
is more compassionate we set the stage for systemic reform including education
for systemic reform including education
for systemic reform including education research treatment options
research treatment options
research treatment options personalized medicine in a more holistic
personalized medicine in a more holistic
personalized medicine in a more holistic approach change the narrative mental
approach change the narrative mental
approach change the narrative mental health needs a new narrative before we
health needs a new narrative before we
health needs a new narrative before we give the category new key messages
give the category new key messages
give the category new key messages though let’s lose the language that
though let’s lose the language that
though let’s lose the language that promotes stigma you won’t hear me say I
promotes stigma you won’t hear me say I
promotes stigma you won’t hear me say I am bipolar I have bipolar disorder it’s
am bipolar I have bipolar disorder it’s
am bipolar I have bipolar disorder it’s an illness I have it’s not who I am
an illness I have it’s not who I am
an illness I have it’s not who I am it does not define me a person with
it does not define me a person with
it does not define me a person with cancer does not say I am cancer if
cancer does not say I am cancer if
cancer does not say I am cancer if you’re talking about me please don’t say
you’re talking about me please don’t say
you’re talking about me please don’t say she is bipolar say she has bipolar
she is bipolar say she has bipolar
she is bipolar say she has bipolar disorder next let’s replace issues with
disorder next let’s replace issues with
disorder next let’s replace issues with challenges she has mental health issues
challenges she has mental health issues
challenges she has mental health issues it’s too loaded we use she has issues as
it’s too loaded we use she has issues as
it’s too loaded we use she has issues as an insult
an insult
an insult most of us would own up to having
most of us would own up to having
most of us would own up to having challenges but few of us wish to be
challenges but few of us wish to be
challenges but few of us wish to be described as having issues a big one
described as having issues a big one
described as having issues a big one people struggle with is talking about
people struggle with is talking about
people struggle with is talking about suicide in the wake of a death by
suicide in the wake of a death by
suicide in the wake of a death by suicide people commonly say
suicide people commonly say
suicide people commonly say I don’t know what to say so often they
I don’t know what to say so often they
I don’t know what to say so often they say nothing
say nothing
say nothing silence breeze more life into shame and
silence breeze more life into shame and
silence breeze more life into shame and stigma to start don’t say committed
stigma to start don’t say committed
stigma to start don’t say committed suicide say died by suicide committed
suicide say died by suicide committed
suicide say died by suicide committed suggests a criminal act it rings of
suggests a criminal act it rings of
suggests a criminal act it rings of condemnation the truth is anyone can
condemnation the truth is anyone can
condemnation the truth is anyone can become suicidal anyone can fall to their
become suicidal anyone can fall to their
become suicidal anyone can fall to their knees in despair and think I can’t do
knees in despair and think I can’t do
knees in despair and think I can’t do this anymore
this anymore
this anymore suicide is a human phenomena find common
suicide is a human phenomena find common
suicide is a human phenomena find common ground let’s lose the us and them in
ground let’s lose the us and them in
ground let’s lose the us and them in this conversation there is no us and
this conversation there is no us and
this conversation there is no us and them only us each of us with emotional
them only us each of us with emotional
them only us each of us with emotional highs and lows each of us with the brain
highs and lows each of us with the brain
highs and lows each of us with the brain that works well sometimes and not as
that works well sometimes and not as
that works well sometimes and not as well other times so what if someone has
well other times so what if someone has
well other times so what if someone has a mental health diagnosis and someone
a mental health diagnosis and someone
a mental health diagnosis and someone else doesn’t the absence of the official
else doesn’t the absence of the official
else doesn’t the absence of the official label is no guarantee you are mentally
label is no guarantee you are mentally
label is no guarantee you are mentally well yourself perhaps that’s what scares
well yourself perhaps that’s what scares
well yourself perhaps that’s what scares people better point at the crazy person
people better point at the crazy person
people better point at the crazy person over there so nobody looks at me I have
over there so nobody looks at me I have
over there so nobody looks at me I have bipolar disorder but you and I are not
bipolar disorder but you and I are not
bipolar disorder but you and I are not so different raise your hand if you want
so different raise your hand if you want
so different raise your hand if you want to feel peaceful raise your hand if you
to feel peaceful raise your hand if you
to feel peaceful raise your hand if you want to be happy
me too
me too let’s start the conversation there with
let’s start the conversation there with
let’s start the conversation there with the things we agree on our shared desire
the things we agree on our shared desire
the things we agree on our shared desire and potential for good mental health
and potential for good mental health
and potential for good mental health focus on outcomes when we run well it’s
focus on outcomes when we run well it’s
focus on outcomes when we run well it’s not a pretty picture it freaks people
not a pretty picture it freaks people
not a pretty picture it freaks people out so let’s not give the breakdown all
out so let’s not give the breakdown all
out so let’s not give the breakdown all of the attention focus more on
of the attention focus more on
of the attention focus more on breakthroughs peace of mind happiness
breakthroughs peace of mind happiness
breakthroughs peace of mind happiness resilience we won’t deny the journey
resilience we won’t deny the journey
resilience we won’t deny the journey there we will give space for healing I’m
there we will give space for healing I’m
there we will give space for healing I’m just suggesting that we put more
just suggesting that we put more
just suggesting that we put more emphasis on the endgame that’s why I
emphasis on the endgame that’s why I
emphasis on the endgame that’s why I called our webseries making a comeback
called our webseries making a comeback
called our webseries making a comeback and not suicide stories we will still
and not suicide stories we will still
and not suicide stories we will still talk about suicide but our positioning
talk about suicide but our positioning
talk about suicide but our positioning reassures people that we are emphasizing
reassures people that we are emphasizing
reassures people that we are emphasizing solutions so they’re more likely to
solutions so they’re more likely to
solutions so they’re more likely to engage with our content
engage with our content
engage with our content I met a counselor from the crisis center
I met a counselor from the crisis center
I met a counselor from the crisis center at a support group for people who lost a
at a support group for people who lost a
at a support group for people who lost a loved one to suicide upon hearing of our
loved one to suicide upon hearing of our
loved one to suicide upon hearing of our project she said good luck you’re gonna
project she said good luck you’re gonna
project she said good luck you’re gonna need it no one wants to talk about this
need it no one wants to talk about this
need it no one wants to talk about this she describes setting up her booth at a
she describes setting up her booth at a
she describes setting up her booth at a busy mall on a Saturday and no one’s
busy mall on a Saturday and no one’s
busy mall on a Saturday and no one’s stopping by what did your banners say I
stopping by what did your banners say I
stopping by what did your banners say I asked her crisis center she replied
asked her crisis center she replied
asked her crisis center she replied that’s a branding problem if her banner
that’s a branding problem if her banner
that’s a branding problem if her banner had red happiness broker or peace of
had red happiness broker or peace of
had red happiness broker or peace of mind found here she would have attracted
mind found here she would have attracted
mind found here she would have attracted more interest the market needed her
more interest the market needed her
more interest the market needed her product but she needed to adjust her
product but she needed to adjust her
product but she needed to adjust her positioning that’s what I’m recommending
positioning that’s what I’m recommending
positioning that’s what I’m recommending a change in our approach
a change in our approach
a change in our approach it starts with ourselves compassion is
it starts with ourselves compassion is
it starts with ourselves compassion is key it’s okay to break down it happens
key it’s okay to break down it happens
key it’s okay to break down it happens to the best of us
to the best of us
to the best of us we all need support with our health at
we all need support with our health at
we all need support with our health at different times so asking for help and
different times so asking for help and
different times so asking for help and accepting help is a good thing it
accepting help is a good thing it
accepting help is a good thing it doesn’t mean you are less worthy it
doesn’t mean you are less worthy it
doesn’t mean you are less worthy it means you are human if you are in
means you are human if you are in
means you are human if you are in despair I ask you to be fierce as well
despair I ask you to be fierce as well
despair I ask you to be fierce as well and hang in there when you think you
and hang in there when you think you
and hang in there when you think you can’t you are stronger than you know
can’t you are stronger than you know
can’t you are stronger than you know gather your allies for support be the
gather your allies for support be the
gather your allies for support be the hero in your own story ready to make an
hero in your own story ready to make an
hero in your own story ready to make an amazing breakthrough something each of
amazing breakthrough something each of
amazing breakthrough something each of us can do ask yourself what is my
us can do ask yourself what is my
us can do ask yourself what is my mindset towards other people’s mental
mindset towards other people’s mental
mindset towards other people’s mental health if it’s based on stigma or
health if it’s based on stigma or
health if it’s based on stigma or outdated familial or cultural norms then
outdated familial or cultural norms then
outdated familial or cultural norms then modernize give your attitudes and
modernize give your attitudes and
modernize give your attitudes and beliefs a makeover we urgently need your
beliefs a makeover we urgently need your
beliefs a makeover we urgently need your support with this people are dying as I
support with this people are dying as I
support with this people are dying as I speak during this talk 25 have died by
speak during this talk 25 have died by
speak during this talk 25 have died by suicide
stigma is killing people it’s keeping
stigma is killing people it’s keeping them from getting help it’s keeping our
them from getting help it’s keeping our
them from getting help it’s keeping our healthcare system in the dark ages we
healthcare system in the dark ages we
healthcare system in the dark ages we won’t fund what we don’t value so let’s
won’t fund what we don’t value so let’s
won’t fund what we don’t value so let’s elevate the conversation let’s use the
elevate the conversation let’s use the
elevate the conversation let’s use the same techniques marketers use to sell us
same techniques marketers use to sell us
same techniques marketers use to sell us stuff we don’t need to instead promote
stuff we don’t need to instead promote
stuff we don’t need to instead promote something we do need
something we do need
something we do need let’s cultivate attitudes and beliefs
let’s cultivate attitudes and beliefs
let’s cultivate attitudes and beliefs that empower us ditch the stigma lose
that empower us ditch the stigma lose
that empower us ditch the stigma lose the shame tell a better story we can do
the shame tell a better story we can do
the shame tell a better story we can do this and when we do it will be the
this and when we do it will be the
this and when we do it will be the greatest comeback story ever thank you
greatest comeback story ever thank you
greatest comeback story ever thank you [Applause]
”
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