I'm a doctor & I take meds for my mental health | Jake Goodman | TEDxUofIChicago

[JakeGoodmanMD]

Giving this speech was a dream. Honored beyond belief for this opportunity. I am part of a new generation of doctors, nurses, and healthcare students and professionals that are NOT afraid to be vulnerable and discuss mental health.

I’m a doctor who treats mental illness, and I go to therapy and I take medications for my mental health. And I’m proud of it ❤️

*Medications are not for everyone. But they can be a powerful tool in combination with therapy and other self care techniques to improve mental health issues.

[casswilliams]

I work in the mental health field, and it is absolutely refreshing to see this video from a man, and a doctor, who struggles with mental health symptoms. We don't discuss men's mental health enough. Thank you for posting this. Thank you so much, from one mental health advocate to another!

[daniellemarlett]

If you have Diabetes ..you take meds..if you have COPD..you take meds..if you have hypertension..you take meds..if you have anxiety..guess what..you Can Take meds!!! Im tired of people treating mental illness like its not a real disease!!

[gerrymcmonigal]

I have struggled with depression since I was 15 years old. I finally found the right medicine, skilled psychiatric nurse practioner, and caring psychologist who have enabled me to live my life to its fullest. Thank God I have found peace at last.

[waqasullah]

What a strong and honest guy... We need people like him definitely

[TheChristineLindsay]

I get so tired of the media telling me I should wean myself off my low 10 mg of citalopram per day. That small dosage of antidepressant makes the difference between me being a happy, productive person, and one who sits in my chair and stairs at the wall. I'm 66 now--so what if my small dosage of antidepressants give me health issues when I'm old. Right now the quality of life is far more important to me that what might kill me in my 80's or 90's.

[CelinaATorres]

We need more doctors and other health care providers that can empathize with people who struggle with mental health. There are many I have seen that are arrogant or just don't care. I respect and appreciate someone who can say they understand, want to help, and mean it.

[priteenarule]

Courage is not the absence of fear in a stressful situation -Well said Dr. Jake 👍👍👍

[cheriseroot]

Amazing talk. Thank you. Sometimes, I feel weak for having to take medication for my anxiety after a 12 year opiate addiction. Society makes it really rough on some of us.

[yearoldnewdriver]

I applaud you doctor for sharing your story. I had gotten an opportunity to share my story from a former psychiatrist who treated me in my 20s. He gave me a chance to share my story, and a three hundred dollar check back in 2020. I am getting driving lessons and my goal is to buy a used car for my own personal use to get around. I reside in New Jersey.

[csc]

Probably the most valuable video on You Tube. Good job, Dr. Goodman. Well earned.

[asyahussain]

I wanted to commend Dr. Goodman on opening about his struggles and being so candid about his experience and journey with mental health and medicine. As an aspiring physician myself, I wholeheartedly agree that the conversation revolving around the physician mental health space needs to be deepened and discussed further. While I understand this pressure, and almost unspoken rule, to be in “perfect” state in order to take care of other people however, I have seen too often that doctors are the worst patients, and this is something we are often told even in our medical school courses and clinical rotations by our attendings. I have noticed, even with my own experience as being a patient, that humans tend to relate more when they feel a connection to their physician and feel the person who is treating them is genuine. This is not to say that one MUST disclose personal information to gauge a good report with patients because a good clinician can make connections with their patients in much simpler manners. However, I think most patients are thankful for the transparency and this makes humans trust the person who is meant to be taking care of them. When we apply for medical school, and even further down the road when we get to residency applications, there is no requirement anywhere stating that you cannot have any struggles. To struggle with anything is to be uniquely human and the beauty in medicine is that we are humans taking care of other humans, so why would we not want to take care of ourselves. Of course, if a patient does not feel comfortable seeking treatment from a physician who has made it openly known they take medication, that is entirely up to them, but I do not see this as being a common issue that would occur. If a clinician had to take medication for hypertension, they most likely would not lose patients. If anything, the clinician could use that to really solidify they know what this patient is struggling with because they too suffer from the same thing. I think it is important to normalize mental health because it allows for everyone to feel they are in a safer space, both the clinician and the patient.

[katelovesdesign]

Thank you sharing your story. The world needs more doctors like you. You bring humanity, compassion and non-judgement to the mental health space. 😁

[ellenorchid]

Excellent and extremely valuable talk- I applaud your wisdom and courage in speaking up. You will save lives by encouraging folks to "swallow their pride", no matter their line of work or station in life, and ASK FOR HELP. Many precious lives have been lost to suicide because people were ashamed, humiliated, felt they "had to be perfect" in order to be worthwhile or matter at all. We are all worthwhile. Doctors especially are pushed to achieve and "be perfect" all their lives. No one is perfect. If you need help, ask for it and keep asking for it, everywhere you find, until you get the answers that work for you.

[SP-owjl]

I'm so glad you talked about this topic, there is a lot of stigma about mental health and medication. We need to normalize this type of conversation, let people know they are not alone, there are millions of people going through a difficult time battling with their brains.

[arboldelavidafrancesca]

Hey Jake, I'm Francesca, Psychotherapist, Grief Counselor and Professor based in Mexico City. So happy to listen to you, it's so important -and brave!- to share out own mental health stories, in order to open doors and other stories. I'll share your talk to my 1st year Med Students :)

[wendyalward]

Thank you for your bravery and advocacy ! You are correct. The stigma is horrible .

[oliveharrinanan]

Good morning Dr. This is the most moving speech from a doctor that I have ever heard. I applaud you from the bottom of my heart. I wish you all the best 50 years from now bc I have to be fair, You have to retire and enjoy the fruit of your struggle. Thank you so much and be blessed to continue on

[vickimainard]

What a fantastic video. I have been a carer for a family member with mental health issues for 36 years and stigma is still a big problem. Doctors like you will go a long way to breaking down this stigma and help to make good mental health care more widely available. Just discovered your channel you have made me a long time fan. Thank you from Australia mate. We need more Doctor Jakes in this world.

[kiloton]

My behavioral psychologist is the one who pushed me into studying medicine. Go figure.