Overcoming Adversity & Mental Health - The speaker recounts a period of anxiety, depression, and panic attacks in spring 2018, contemplating quitting a new job at George Mason University [1] - The speaker's wife encouraged him to persevere through each day, leading to gradual improvement with support from supervisors, family, friends, and students [2] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of resilience in the face of rejection and failure, viewing them as challenges rather than insurmountable obstacles [10][11] Self-Discovery & Purpose - The speaker discovered his strength lies in connecting with people, embracing it as a "superpower" [4][5] - The speaker created the persona of the "unofficial mayor of Mason" to advocate for students and instill confidence in them [2][5] - Working at George Mason transformed from a job into a purpose and mission, providing a sense of leadership and empowerment [5] Personal Growth & Leadership - The speaker highlights the importance of defining one's own identity and not letting the world dictate who they should be [12] - The speaker emphasizes the need for a persona to build confidence, a purpose at work, and resilience to overcome challenges [9] - The speaker encourages the audience to identify their desired future selves, the help they need, and who they will help along the way [13][14]

Mental Health Crisis Scale - Mental illness affects millions, yet it remains consistently underestimated and underfunded [2] - People with severe mental illness die on average 15 years earlier than the general population [3] - Over 700,000 lives are lost to suicide each year [3] - Governments dedicate only 2% of their health budgets to mental illness [4] - In developing nations, the average expenditure per person on mental health care was just two cents [4] Barriers to Seeking Help - Psychological signs of distress can manifest physically, leading to misdiagnosis or lack of treatment [5][6] - Among those diagnosed with mental illness, only 46% of white Americans, 23% of black Americans, and 18% of Asian-Americans accessed treatment last year [7] - Reaching mental health professionals often requires leaving daily routines and fighting stigma [9] Economic and Social Benefits of Treatment - For every $1 invested in mental health care, there is a $4 return in productivity and reduced healthcare costs [10] - Treated individuals miss 50% fewer work days and experience significant drops in homelessness and substance misuse [11] - Addressing mental illness shrinks the 10 to 20 year mortality gap [11] Solutions for Improvement - Train normal people (faith leaders, coaches, teachers, parents) to recognize expressions of distress [12] - Shift at least 5% of health budgets to mental health care [12] - Integrate support into everyday environments (temples, churches, mosques, grocery stores) [13]

Overcoming Adversity & Personal Growth - The speaker shares their personal journey of overcoming anxiety and panic attacks, transforming fear into a source of strength and self-discovery [2][3][4][10][11] - The speaker initially used anxiety as an excuse to avoid challenges but later realized the importance of facing fears to achieve goals [7][8] - Small actions and consistent effort are key to overcoming fear and achieving personal growth [8][9][12] - Embracing difficulties and viewing them as opportunities for self-development is crucial [11][13] Mental Health & Performance - Anxiety can manifest as physical symptoms like numbness, racing heart, and temporary paralysis [3][4] - Facing fears, such as public speaking and competition, can lead to the disappearance of anxiety symptoms [8][9] - The speaker's experience highlights the potential for individuals with anxiety to achieve success in competitive fields like golf [6][9] Mindset & Achievement - Shifting from avoidance to active engagement with fears is essential for overcoming anxiety [8][9] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of not making excuses and taking small steps towards change [8][12] - Overcoming anxiety can lead to significant achievements, including scholarships and success in competitions [9][10]

Stress is a feeling that we will all experience in life. It's normal and even healthy to have some level of stress. Whether it's work, family, friends, extracurricular killers, or anything in general, stress can help us feel motivated and manage growth.What is important, however, is that we manage that stress so it doesn't overwhelm us and in methods that work for us. Now, I want you all and the audience to close your eyes and take a deep breath in. Now, imagine all of the stress in your life being crumpled ...

It's 2:00 a. m. and David is still awake.His laptop glows in the dark as he stares at his unfinished essay. His eyes are blurry for staring at the screen for so long. He's exhausted, but sleep won't come.The next morning, he wakes up. He eats breakfast and makes it through the day, pretending he's fine. But he's not. Inside, he feels like he's drowning.Later that evening, he's doom scrolling through reals, comparing his life to the polished Instagram posts of others. He feels trapped in a cycle he can't esc ...

Men's Mental Health & Involved Fatherhood - The talk addresses the silence surrounding men's mental health challenges in parenthood, advocating for open conversations about mental well-being, parenting skills, policy changes, and cultural representation [1] - It challenges traditional notions of strength, redefining it as love, presence, and vulnerability rather than silence or avoidance [1][3] - The talk highlights that approximately 10% of fathers experience paternal postpartum depression, and about 18% experience overwhelming anxiety during their spouse's pregnancy and the first year afterward [1] Shifting Social Norms & Advertising - The talk emphasizes the importance of involved fatherhood, where fathers are actively engaged in their children's lives and supportive of their spouses [1] - It notes the emergence of social media trends celebrating involved fathers, such as Dad Braids, Dad Got Bars, and The Dad Show [1] - Advertising is evolving to reflect and shape social norms, with brands like Dove, Pantene, Gillette, Apple, and Tide showcasing positive representations of involved fathers [1] Policy Changes & Resources - The talk advocates for policy changes such as fraternal leave for both parents to facilitate bonding with newborns [1] - It calls for the creation of safe spaces for men to be vulnerable and open about their feelings, emphasizing that therapy is a sign of strength [1] - The talk stresses the need for accessible and affordable parent-child resources for all types of parents, including foster parents and birth parents [2] Actionable Steps - Encourage open conversations with men about their experiences as fathers, offering support and appreciation [2] - Promote and support policies that enable fathers to be more involved in their children's lives [1] - Advocate for increased representation of involved fathers in advertising and media [1]

Okay. So, I'm excited. This is the first time that I'll be speaking for something like this, but I have always been an advocate for mental health.And entirety is my favorite word. And as we go along, you're going to find out why it is my favorite word. and maybe yours.So before anything else, I would like to ask you, how do you view life. Do you only love it because you're happy or do you love it because it gives you blessings and excitement or as a whole you know even through the pain through the heartbrea ...

Learn a founder-focused approach to anxiety at TC All Stage | TechCrunch https://t.co/zLPKl45FfB ...

[Music] The beauty of a broken path. They say life is a journey. A path we're meant to follow. But let's be honest, most of us aren't strolling down some perfectly lit road with gentle music playing in the background. In reality, most of us are barely barely crawling down this gravel path with lightning and thunderstorms in the back and just a tiny sign by the side of the road that says, "Good luck. You're on your own. " My path, my journey, it hasn't been an easy one. I've stumbled. I've slipped. And I've ...

Uh my name is Sarita Jadav. I work as a national program officer in the UNESCO South Asia regional office based in New Delhi. And the work that uh I am involved in is on uh promoting health and wellness of learners and uh promote you know promoting safety and security and preventing violence in schools.I'd like to start by asking all of you over here in this esteemed gathering to please close your eyes for 15 seconds. Close your eyes for 15 seconds and imagine a 15-year-old child who is waking up with an al ...