Imagine There Was No Stigma to Mental Illness | Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman | TEDxCharlottesville

Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman, Professor and Chair of Psychiatry at Columbia University and past President of the American Psychiatric Association, envisions that breaking down the barrier which arises from our stigmatizing mental health would result in better treatment for millions of individuals.

Jeffrey Lieberman has devoted his life to the study and treatment of mental illness. He has passionately advocated for more research and better treatment of people with mental illness, and contributed to mental health care policy and legislation including the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act. Dr. Lieberman is Professor and Chair of Psychiatry at Columbia University, Psychiatrist-in-Chief at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute and past President of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Lieberman has authored over than 500 scientific articles and written or edited 12 books on mental illness and psychiatry, including the critically acclaimed Shrinks: The Untold Story of Psychiatry (Little Brown 2015).

[smthngintherain]

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

[Zanyotaku]

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?

[__mastershifureads__]

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

[uniqueusername_]

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

[jorysmith]

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.

[kamihimes]

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.

[AndrewHelbig]

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.

[SandraLopez-ifyz]

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.

[fallyfal]

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

[jam]

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.

[davidlonky]

God bless therapist and all others. I use to work at a hospital as an employee at Kaiser Permanente in California. Now on disability. Dealing with mental illness. So this guy has a point.that the US is in a rough patch.

[AM-bjyo]

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.

[longatedmuskrtmusic]

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

[gabrielacepeda]

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

[PinkYellowGreen]

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

[ramblingsofabipolarmind]

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

[shamaniworld]

Wow! What an Inspirational Sharing of Knowledge. Thank You

[Curtis.Carpenter]

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

[katoreynolds]

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!

[candacecastillo]

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!