Changing the Stigma of Mental Health & Addiction | Erika Ball | TEDxPaloAltoCollege
Erika Ball, a certified alcohol and drug counselor, shares the idea that coming out and talking about mental health and addictions should be normalized. Erika Ball is the Founder and Director of “We Are Those People” (WATP) a nonprofit organization, dedicated to changing the narrative of addiction recovery through storytelling and film. She and her husband, Frank Ball, Co-Founder are both in recovery and created WATP as a way to give back to the recovery community and help those who are still suffering as well as their families. Erika is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and received her Bachelor’s in Human Services Management and Leadership from UNT-Dallas. She is an advocate for Mental health care reform and also serves the Spanish speaking community as she is a first generation Paraguayan-American. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
18 Comments
It is needed to be done… actually great initiative…All d best….👍
Hello Erika, thank you for your message. I am an occupational therapist by trade. I am also a 2-time TEDx speaker and a 1-time TEDx organizer. Your message is very powerful. Thank you for sharing. I have shared that to a few of my colleagues who are interested in mental health and addiction.
In high school, Erika, you were easily one of the most beautiful people in our class. As you’ve grown through the years, I can see that your strength, as well as your inside & outer beauty has now extended to promote the healing, and positivity of those around you. It is a blessing to see another hero making the world around us a better place to be~ DJ 😃
I had the opportunity to meet her and spend time with her. She is a very nice and amazing person. Yay for you erika
Your story inspired me and make me hopeful as a cregiver for loved one with addition for 10 years.
It's sad because this is one of the biggest problems playing in America right now and it doesn't seem like anyone really cares
Erika, I am going to school to get my bachelors in Psychology with concentration in Substance Abuse Counseling. Do you have any advice for me as I am getting closer to graduation?
Erika this is truly awesome!!! I am starting a brand new podcast in this coming month centered around mental health and addiction. Would love to have you as a guest on the show in future.
Thank you for all you do. Would you happen to know where I might be able to watch the documentary you spoke of, "People Like You"?
I am currently going through everything you are talking about and I too want to start some kind of foundation or a way to help people like me, like you, and make a difference… How can I do what you do? How can I be a part of your foundation?
How do you functionally share when your whole life you’re told to be quiet ? Some of us sit in darknesses not because we don’t know how or because of choice. Many people are blind lost in the darkness an can’t see there way out . All the while doing everything to reach out an finding nothing. How can we fix what’s broken?
They should do sit-ups where the upper part of the abdomen is worked, with the legs raised and trying to touch the feet with the hands and its variants that work the upper part of the abdomen, they will see improvements quickly. That upper abdominal exercise will take away your depression and anxiety, it will also heal your mind…
Is it just me or was that intro music very soothing.
The stigma? The stigma begins with the psychiatrists themselves. They're the ones who do the stigmatizing.
Boring.
Let’s normalize mental health- yes! Well spoken.
Thank you for sharing your story, and sharing that oxytocin is released during storytelling! I feel it . Makes sense why Jesus shared through parables. 🙏
I need help