Mental health literacy can be taught in grade school. | Wendy Smith | TEDxLincolnSquare
Wendy Smith is an early interventionist. By sharing with us what a mental health literate world could look like, she gives us hope that we can find a way to prevent the ongoing suffering of our loved ones.
Wendy has worked in the nonprofit industry for nearly 30 years, currently as a consultant, speaker and author. She was an early advocate of applying a business perspective to the nonprofit operating model and worked at every level from service provider to executive to board member. She is also a researcher and author in the field of philanthropy. Her best-selling book, “Give a Little: How Your Small Donations Can Transform Our World,” was released in 2009 and describes the magnitude and power of affordable giving by everyday Americans. The book’s release coincided with the explosion of online donating, and she has since consulted to numerous start-up nonprofits, social entrepreneurs and organizations focused on raising affordable donations from individuals online.
Wendy is also involved in the field of mental health as a consumer, caregiver and former board member of her local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx
15 Comments
There's a spelling error in the title btw
This is a very much needed topic. Thank you for bringing it to society's attention. As an occupational therapist (and a 2x TEDx Talker) I know we can play a big role in children mental health, including mental health literacy. We have the knowledge and skills to support such efforts in the community level.
Awesome talk! Very important message that we need to scream to the schools!
Our culture's attitude towards mental illness is simply appalling. Just listen in on the conversations you hear every single day. Seeing someone in obvious pain, people often say things like, "Oh, it's just a whack job." "Nut bar." "Head case." We name-call and label the mentally ill in a way we NEVER would do with different racial or ethnic groups or even differently oriented/gender-fluid groups. It's done very casually, as if we're just talking about a "thing" and not a person. It does not even occur to the person who is using terms like "whack job" that he/she is talking about an individual who is fully human, someone's daughter or son, sister or brother, and someone with intrinsic value/worth. I have seen (for sale on Amazon even now) "mental patient" Halloween costumes with straightjackets, syringes, and signs that say, "Danger! Escaped mental patient!'" Mental hospitals are seen as creepy, terrifying dungeons where you "put away" people who don't belong or are too scary to be walking around. And this is in 2017! In the next breath, these same people will then say, "Why don't more people reach out for help? We can't help them if they don't ask for it." https://www.amazon.com/Mens-Straight-Jacket-Costume-White/dp/B002FRJBEM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1493961662&sr=8-2&keywords=mental+patient+costumes
With so many school shootings, it seems school and government officials would take notice. Take this message to them.
Great talk. LHS
This is horrible advice. The brain of a child should never be medicated by any drugs unless it is a life or death physical illness like diabetes. No psychiatric drugs should be given to children. This talk is full of dangerous advice. Get informed. This drugging of children is based on money and big pharma not the well-being of our precious children. Stop the medical experiment that is being disguised as helpful when nothing could be further than the truth. Get informed please. Dr Gabor Mate, Dr. Szasz, Dr. Peter Breggin, Dr. Jeffrey Schaler, Dr. Peter Gotzsche, and Robert Whitaker just for starters. Read the book Hold on to your kids and the myth of mental illness. L'Chaim
most childhood mental illness is a crock. there is no reason for so many kids to be on psychotropic meds
Very important message. I hope we can do the same in Asia.
Awesome message. What a better country we would live in if mental health were a priority.
One of the best things we can do to address mental health issues with kids is to talk with them about it. Let them know their emotions are valid. It's okay to be sad. It's okay to recognize anger and process it. So many people have a bad habit of telling kids they "shouldn't be sad" which can make a kid feel like there is something wrong with them for having regular emotions. This can lead to all kinds of problems with anxiety and depression later on.
Talking about mental health to kids and making sure they feel okay talking about their emotions seems like a good idea.
V useful talk by Smith mam thanks
Most important message for us
Great message. Much needed. Thank you.
I wish governments and schools had taken this Ted Talk a bit more seriously
Hi! On the offhand I could get some assistance for a school project. I'm making a persuasive argument for Mental Health literacy in K-12 education. I wish to cite this video, but I wish to know how Ms. Smith is an authority to speak on the subject. I know its a crapshoot on getting an answer but if anyone that would be great! I tried googling and found far too many Wendy Smiths. I apologize if the last-minute crunch made me miss an introduction. Thank you and fantastic presentation!