Mental Health Stigma and the Cult of Positivity | Rachel Tambling | TEDxUConn

In this TEDx talk, Dr. Rachel Tambling discusses the contribution of toxic positivity to mental health stigma. Stigma, including internalized stigma, is one of the most frequently reported barriers to seeking help for mental health and substance use concerns. Toxic positivity, and the cult of positivity in social media contributes to stigmatization of mental health challenges.

Dr. Tambling is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at the University of Connecticut and a licensed Marital and Family Therapist. Dr. Tambling’s research is centered on intervention and service utilization in behavioral health. She is specifically interested in treatment initiation, client engagement, and client processes of change during psychotherapy. Dr. Tambling is also interested in health equity, and explores ways to address barriers to health equity, including expanding the availability of couple and family therapy, and understanding the complex components of effective engagement and change during therapy. Dr. Tambling is also the Editor-in-Chief of Contemporary Family Therapy.

[maneet]

You helped me finish my marathon when I quit at 21k. So so grateful Rachel 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[madeleiner]

I can't believe this only has a 1000 views. This is exactly what we need to be absorbing so we can get out of this hideous over-positive state of existence. It really is just a ridiculous fad, but its destructive. And the cult word fits because if you aren't on the positivity bandwagon, you can be shunned, made to feel like something is wrong with your or that you aren't working hard enough. There is no healthy human state of being where we toss out all the uncomfortable emotions and go only with happy. We have a range of emotions and I actually think that's pretty awesome, evolutionary wise. Problems in our brains that result in Axis 1 or Axis II mental disorder are nothing to do with us letting the team down by dwelling on the negative. I guess a positive mindset is a tool to wellness, but the way it is shoved at us on social media is hideous. If we only did what was positive according to social media, my day would be start with a vegan smoothie, do yoga, go for a run, write a book, smile just because, start a charity, join zumba and repeat. The reality of that is I'd lose my job, then my house and be underweight with low immunity and always sick and I might got shot at just because I am sooo overly positively annoying! I just loved this video and I think it has been a long time coming. thanks