There’s something about hearing others’ stories and findings that motivate us to seek something out in ourselves. TED Talks have proven not only to be motivational but insightful for listeners and viewers, especially with certain topics like mental health. In no particular order, here are some of the best TED Talks surrounding the topic of mental health.
There’s no shame in taking care of your mental health – Sangu Delle
In this personal TED Talk, Sangu Delle says, “Being honest about how we feel doesn’t make us weak — it makes us human.” In a society that is not always comfortable with sharing emotions, Delle shares with us how he learned to handle this anxiety and how men should not feel bad about taking care of their own mental health.
Toward a new understanding of mental health – Thomas Insel
Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, Thomas Insel stresses the importance of early detection in mental health issues like depression and schizophrenia. He also states that the first step in intervention is reframing “mental disorders” to “brain disorders.”
Love, no matter what – Andrew Solomon
In this TED Talk, Andrew Solomon discusses what is the line between unconditional love and unconditional acceptance, defining these two unconditional elements and how it can conquer everything else.
Mental health for all by involving all – Vikram Patel
According to Vikram Patel, Nearly 450 million people are affected by mental illness worldwide and in developing countries, close to 90% of mental illnesses go untreated. In his TED Talk, Patel suggests training members of the communities to give each other mental health interventions to help break the stigma and empower ordinary people to care and help others.
The world needs all kinds of minds – Temple Grandin
As a child, those around him thought Temple Grandin was autistic. In her TED Talk, Grandin shares with us the different types of autism and why it is important for people to recognize that the world needs all types of minds and how variety can help in solving worldwide challenges.
