I remember when I was 15, I would go home and obsessively study because I was so terrified of failure I cried every day. I stopped talking to my friends and. I was called a "perfectionist" 16, I literally ran away in the middle of a piano recital and locked myself in a bathroom stall for an hour. "Stage fright" 17, I would run to the bathroom to throw up and cry in terror over class presentations. Again it was "stage fright" 18, after moving to college I began suffering regular panic attacks. "Just nerves" and "homesick" 19, and one of those panic attacks hit me in the middle of a biology lecture. And I had been so used to calling it other names I actually didn't believe my professor when she took me aside and asked me about my anxiety. And now I can't stop wondering: why didn't anyone tell me sooner?

not all heroes wear capes. a big salute to Dr. Lieberman and every other person who is out there raising awareness to end this stigma

The number of views of this Ted talk tells us how many people are suffering because of the stigma of mental health illness. People don't outgrow bad childhood experiences or traumas, and can't just "get over it", just like they can't outgrow A congenital heart defect or other serious medical illnesses.

Stigmatizing someone because of how they adapt to stress/trauma/environment, is the biggest contributor to "stigma" he is talking about, not just the label of mental illness.

Therapists, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists are all heroes that are not given credit.

Every last one of these talks about mental illnesses bring me to tears.

Some people just think or see physically and mentally disabled people as less than human or subhuman. Just because of someone has a difficulty with something than you doesn't mean they should be berated or put down or even humiliated. It's better to give a helping hand or even give someone a little push forward in general if needed.

Thank you everyone who is destigmatizing mental illness. I hope, as a person with mental illness, I can soon become well enough to share my experiences with others and help people become more loving towards one another in general, more understanding, and more willing to forgive one another.

I came to watch this after seeing the move Joker. Though it had some violent scenes, it made me think a lot about how society doesn't value mentally ill people, how they're often left to fend for themselves. I hope that we can take away the stigma of mental illness and support one another, no matter if one has a mental illness or not. Thanks for this talk. That reading of the letter at the end was very nice to hear... We can all have compassion.

so inspired by this. I live and breathe with being a dual diagnosed person. proud to say substance free for 8 years and live with depression and anxiety and PTSD.

sitting here, having just finished my psychiatry rotations in medical school, and preparing for my psychiatry final tomorrow, i can't help but think of how judgmental i have been towards mental illness, and hearing how his empathy was the most important factor, i am without words. i can only pray that i am given some of his empathy and that i am able to help, and be a force of good, and not be so judgmental.

Thank you. We appreciate your voice. I hope it amplifies the rest of ours.

thank you Dr. Lieberman, on a recent trip to the metal hospital this past new years after being off my meds and going into sycosis again, I was out side on one the few release half hour break on the outside world for a cigerete when I had to explain why I hid my smokes in the bush to an ordinary patient and explained we aren't alound to have them on our ward, and after explaining that I was on the mental health ward she immediately turned to me and asked me why the hell was I aloud out, I had to explain to her that not all of us a violent and that we all have our troubles, and that sometimes we need a little bit of help

Thanks for keep advocating to stop mental illness stigma, you have no idea how much just some words can make to change the world.

This video really hit me hard. I feel so ashamed and embarrassed even though I try so hard not to. Thank you.

These talks are needed.

Having watched Dr Lieberman it has given me more motivation to share my story of my own live experience of schizophrenia, so that this can hopefully reduce the stigma and discrimination around mental health challenges. The more people talk openly the better this will be for the health and well-being of everyone.

I love your idea I struggle with anxiety and depression which stems from my high functioning autism and i was put aside by the teachers in school because they knew I had problems and sucidal thoughts and nothing was done my whole life untill now I’m now 19 and only been diagnosed with all of this, this year I think it would of helped if I got diagnosed younger

There is less and less stigma surrounding it everyday, it’s amazing. I work with many people who are super open about their mental health issues and everyone at work is accepting because he’s so willing to share and explain how it affects him. It’s allowed many others at work to feel the same comfort in sharing their problems. We’re all closer because of it

After suffering for years alone with mental illness , I’ve lost compassion and interest for family and friends with physical illness.

This was a fantastic presentation and speech. Thank you for bringing awareness to end the stigma of mental illness. The full-circle moment with his patient, Laurie, brought tears to my eyes. Beautifully said Dr. Lieberman!

What if there was no stigma to mental illness? Then my breakdown wouldn't have revealed the distinction between my associates and my freinds. Also Great talk doc.

I really appreciate people speaking out against the stigma of mental illness. As people we should come to understand that mental illnesses are as real and as serious as any physical illness. I really hope that there will be a time where people with mental illnesses have better care available and do not end up homeless and suffering even further. God bless this man!

I love you Dr. Lieberman I wish there were more doctors like you in the world. More people with understanding, kindness and a love for people as you have.. I'm a hurting mother of a daughter with mental illness. I feel if she had a chance to meet with you that you could truly help her. The behavioral health system is broken.and people need LOVE not just medicine. God is the essence of Love.

Thank you dr lieberman for inspiring the next generation of psychiatrist around the globe.

I couldn't agree more about a mental health professionals, and doctors being caring, and not judgmental. I've had a few who have spoken down to me, and made me feel judged. People will not respond, or open up, if they feel this way with the people who are supposed to be helping them.

I'm kinda sobbing having watched this thoroughly.

I agree...I suffer from mental illness and am doing good in nursing school...hearing about his patient Lauri really touched me...I had been putting off consistent treatment for so long because I was ashamed...but not anymore and I'm going to join in the fight to help others

The world is blessed to have people like him and others who do the same, may God bless them

It would be a great world.

That letter made me cry of joy... Beautiful. All you need to do is care.. and you might just save someone's life doing so! *sidenote Lieberman literally means nice man in german (lieber Mann) ❤

Fantastic speech, Dr. Lieberman! The email Lori sent you brought a tear to my eye. I’m hoping to make as much of a difference in the lives of my clients as you once I finish graduate school and enter the field. :)

I've realized that not all doctors are compassionate. When Dr. Lieberman said that what Lori remembered was his compassion for her I felt that. As someone with bipolar i overanalyze people's tone of speech when they talk to me and sometimes I get hurt when my doctor is not so nice to me. It may not be easy to understand or be nice to a mentally ill person acting erratically even if you are a psychiatrist. So I have nothing but respect for doctors who are kind and compassionate to mentally ill people

You articulate how it "should be" so perfectly; as I listened I thought how I hope you have the audience of those who can impact change to the point of creating such programs. In the mean time those of us who agree, need to step forward boldly to eliminate the stigma; by speaking up and by our actions. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.

I’ve never felt more understood in my entire life and the fact that the feeling was caused by a Doctor is shocking. Thank you so for this.

Thank you for posting this video Doctor! Really appreciate you took the time to do so, I long for the day the stigma is finally gone from mental health problems & everyone suffering gets the help they need including myself! God Bless Doc!

Every person needs to watch this. So so helpful. Thank you so much, Sir! Speaking about an issue that most people only believe in hushing away. Can't agree more that compassion can genuinely make this world a much happier place. Let's keep talking about and break this stigma!

In the 1980s the Campaign against Psychiatric Oppression (CAPO) met for regular music and poetry meetings in the Troubadour Café, London, to express their response to how people had been treated. I find it absurd that instead of learning from people who are classified as mentally ill and thereby changing society to avoid making people ill, we continue to support a socio-economic system built on cooperative abuse and exploitation, resulting in the adverse consequences for millions of people.

There are three words that can make a huge difference to someone with a mental illness. Are you ok? If they are they will either say so and that's end of it. Or you can open up a conversation as to what is troubling them and help them just by listening to them. My brother who has mental illness has told me countless times just listening to him and giving him my time and my ear have really helped him. I would love to see those three words help many more people like my brother.

This was brilliant. Great content with a good balance of psychiatric knowledge, historical context, and personal experience. Very memorable.

Thank you so much for your message to the world!!!!!!!

Yesterday was the first anniversary of my mental collapse, the one that took me to the psychiatric doc and meds. I tried not to think about it yesterday, but now, watching this, it deeply resonated. Much needed tears. The never ending struggling. Sometimes towards certain death, sometimes towards safety.

What a great message and challenge to each of us to be part of the change so desperately needed! Thank you!!

I remember this year I didn’t finish an already late project for English(my depression has been terrible), and knowing I’d have to see the teacher first thing in the morning, I tried to give myself a migraine so I could get to school later, and have a “reason” to not be there. I literally gave myself a panic attack, hit my head, strained my eyes, avoided water, so I could hopefully wake up the next morning with a debilitating migraine.

Brilliant man with a kind heart. Keep sharing this message.

That was excellent. Thank you for sharing!

This is life changing awareness!

This is probably one of the most important TEDTalks thank you Dr. Jeff!

I am so on board with you Dr. Leiberman!

Im going to be vocal about speaking of the fact i survived my MI experiences and stop hiding my experience as a survivor of CPTSD and all it entails. thank you

These are the kind of videos I hit like on before I even start watching them.

Thank you Dr Lieberman! Great stories and examples that show the uphill battle we fight in mental health related to stigma.

It’s not really hard to understand. It’s just that the world is selfish because people that are not mentally ill are too driven to life and are oblivious to the fact that not everyone thinks that way. The stigma exist because you can’t see the illness. It’s not physical so therefore, no one will take that illness seriously. They only take it serious when someone takes their life. It leaves people bewildered as to why this person killed themselves and left their loved ones in pain but it’s simple, it’s because everyone needs to be more aware of what’s actually going on with the world which is dark reality. Humans are selfish in nature. Society just needs to be more understanding otherwise suicide is just going to keep on happening so it’s society that’s the problem and how the world works. It’s not rocket science.

As someone suffering from schizophrenia. I wish there was no stigma. Like the illness wasn't torture enough i know also am seen as not fit for well oiled society

Incredibly inspiring ❤️

Thank you for your kind sharing

Stigma is heart -wrenching

This is by far the most important n interesting talk I've had the chance to hear. A subject which is commonly swept under the carpet in daily life in many families with frivolous commnents.

Thank you so much for this 🙏 you are my hero!! This should be a manditory class/presentation for all medical/mental health/ drug and alcohol/ authortive figures of any kind!!! I wish u could be my Dr. 🙏😢

Thank you!!!!!!! 💜💜💫

The stigma discredits the patient allowing for easier exploitation. Families can often use the stigma against a family member for opportunity to win in petty disagreements. The stigma will be enforced by those who exploit it's various leverage points.

Shunned, ridiculed, feared, treated like a pariah...I feel like that has happened to me my whole life. I wish these changes would happen, but I doubt they will in my lifetime. People don't care about the mentally ill, generally speaking. It's beyond sad.

Thank you sir !

Thank you Dr Jeffrey for your views on mental illness

People can be really cruel and predatory toward people with mental illness.

I am doing an interview tonight with someone who asked me to talk about depression and anxiety- one thing I would like to say, although I think this talk is absolutely fabulous, is I think we should be maybe choosing words that are more empowering when it comes to our health in general- like rather than say “suffering from” how about “experiencing”-- such as the difference between “I’m suffering from depression and anxiety” and “I am experiencing depression and anxiety”- -I just feel like one makes you feel like a victim, and the other and makes you feel a bit more empowered -just my two cents, but thank you so much for your time in this absolutely fabulous talk on such a serious issue. Sincerely someone who experiences depression and anxiety.

yeah, tell the majority of people. I am being kicked out of my shared apartment because my roommates have difficulty connecting to me due to my anxiety and depression. It's that easy to dismiss a person with problems and just so justified in the minds of other people. And I don't blame em. If they want to live with someone who they can connect to better, then that's their right. I think it's important to understand that for this scenario there is no one-dimensional solution. You gotta see it from the third person's perspective. Which in itself is a really important skill

Thank you 🙏

I returned to college, wth great pride and fervent dedication, right after WTC 9/11/2001. I was 54 years old. I attended Columbia University School of General Studies, matriculating and majoring in English and Comp Lit. Won every major scholarship, within belching distance, maintained a 3.6 for quite some time. Eventually, the stresses of working outside, and school took a toll on me, and I began to suffer from serious depression. What I remember distinctly, was that all mental health counseling service were closed/unavailable to me. I was 'ineligible"due to my status as a part-time student. After many hours of evaluation, meetings and professional interviews which would have set a treatment plan in place and probably allowed me to remain at SGS - I was told, "We are sorry you misunderstood the program..". I dropped out of school. It is 2018 as I write - Columbia may or may not still do this to SGS students, or others, but at $1,000+ a credit when I was there in the early 2000's, the Ivy League grew way... short of the mark.

Excellent and much needed video.

This gives me hope. Maybe one day they will have facilities for mental health like they do for addiction.

What an amazing talk.

Wonderful presentation.

Thank you so much ❄️

Every single psychiatric label stigmatizes the person being labeled and as long as we continue to use psychiatric labels (contained within the DSM) to describe behaviors, psychiatry will continue to profit while the public suffers. No psychiatric label, no billing insurance. No psychiatric label, no drug prescribed. So until we stop using these psychiatric labels, which mean nothing other than what some psychiatrists decided was a mental “illness,” we will never stop the “stigma.” The psychiatric labels are backed by corporate interests not medicine, and not science.

Let's break the stigma 🙏🏻...happy world mental health month❤

Stuff like schizophrenia and people in their 30’s with dementia really remind me how lucky we all are. It genuinely really is just a roll of the die, and that’s incredibly scary.

I'm right there with you. I'm a mental health consumer & worked in the field. Sad to say..most working in the residential facilities have no real clue about mental illness. I attempt to advocate for individuals with mental illness. My own family hasn't even become educated about it. I had to move to another State to be where people accepted me for who I was and loved me. Thanks for helping to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.

Not just stigma. People get angry at me if I'm high and or low. They go out of their way to yell at me. Only very rarely have some treated me with compassion.

What makes it hard for people to seek help are those social workers, therapists, psychologists who are doing it for the money. In the foster care system, Foster caregivers are guilty of this as well. But he hit the nail on the head when he said it was the fact he cared and was passionate about her overcoming. If people were more caring and showed active, unconditional support, the world would be healed.

Excellent speech. Especially like the part where you note that Gay AIDS victims ended ostracization/stigma by forcing government to engage in research that led to treatment. That is a better approach than that taken by the mental health industry and advocates, which is to seek government grants for their own organizations to run public service announcements teaching the public that there is stigma to mental illness. Thanks for speech

Let's eliminate the stigmas, and let's talk about mental health!

I don’t care about stigma, I care about my suffering

My name is Derek Steele I just turned 46 years old I have had to take psych meds starting at age 7 I've tried shock treatment and a lot of praying and I've been on over 280 psych meds that work at times but don't at others I'm a rapid cycler so my chemistry changes too fast just was wondering if anyone else has this problem thank you and God bless Derek

Two things that I will practice from today 1.Showing Compassion 2.Not Judging People.

i used to hide away my mental asd ( autisum spectum disorder ) and many did never understand and i hid my mental state for 3 years but after i opened up and i talked to my whole class about my asd now i feel better i told pepole about my true self

awesome Jeff!!

Thanks

I wish our society could understand this. When people with mental illness function & give it all to perform, there is a different stigma. A feeling of others looking down on one. I've seen people treat one worst on account that one doesn't fit their idea of who, or what one should look like, sound like etc.. Especially if cultural differences add to the a perception. Leading a person not simply functioning , but over performing with a burden to be perfect. End results are that one suffers abuse in social, family, or work enviornments. People treat you badly, once they've realized one has a diagnosis can be an opportunity to behave unprofessional ways. I wish the society and work places understood the pain that people with mental illness go through after functioning well and being told otherwise. Thanks Dr. Lieberman for continuing to teach others that illness is not just physical.

Tedx ..pls hold a talk on conversion disorder / FND and what the family and friends of the patients can do to support the patients....

This was so helpful I highly recommend!

Unfortunately we don't feel free to open up with others and in this world humans are closing instead of opening up and trusting one another more. We humans are not paying attention and show compassion as a way to care for another person. The world would be and CAN BE a better place if each one of us would listen more and share and CARE for one another. It can be in a smaller and simpler way and it can make a BIG difference. Try it and knowing it help someone to feel better will make you feel amazing inside! :)

The stigma? The stigma begins with the psychiatrists themselves. They're the ones who do the stigmatizing.

Other than the fact he said BPD affects "young people" (it doesn't just affect young people) good talk...

Nothing makes me more upset in this world than the anti psychiatrist movement. I have moderate to severe bipolar disorder and severe anxiety that has ruined many things and relationships with people . The fact people don’t believe mental illness is real makes me upset because without this field I wouldn’t be here. Let’s break the stigma.

A step in the right direction to be sure. But you also have to make it known, because I'd be willing to bet that I was not the only child in the world that didn't know it was mental illness. Its pretty hard to come forward when your first fear is being labeled as fake because you don't even know if it is forsure.

There are so many people affected with these disorders we ought to be humble and recognize the probability of having a mental disorder ourselves.

It may be athought that many people with mental illness may have started with in the school through boolying which can affect us later on in life, some people get over it and other people struggle. Brian Turner boyfriend and carer

If mental illness did not have a stigma attached to it, there are so many good things that would come to those who struggle with these illnesses. First off, they would not struggle to find help. Many who struggle with mental illness are embarrassed to talk about it, so they don’t. This leads to them trying to deal with it on their own without professional or even personal help from others. If they weren’t embarrassed, then they would seek help earlier and be diagnosed earlier leading to a more favorable outcome for those people. No one has ever suggested just going on a walk or to just tough it out for a broken leg. But there are so many people who suggest that for people who are dealing with mental illness struggles. If the stigma did not exist then people would look at mental illness the same as they view physical illness. This would lead to more support for those living with mental illnesses. Individuals living with mental illness would not have to worry about the negative effects of stigma, such as social isolation and out right discrimination. They would be able to openly discuss their experiences and receive support from others without fear of judgment or rejection. This will lead to increased community support and understanding for individuals with mental health disorders. A world without mental illness stigma would be one of increased compassion for others. Little by little this stigma is going away but there are still a lot of people who hold on to those beliefs of the past. We need to make a conscious effort to get rid of the ideas that we hole about people who are struggling with any sort of illness. This change in view will only lead to a better place for every one to live in.

its hard to find a doctor who truly care.