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Depressed dogs, cats with OCD — what animal madness means for us humans

1,786,961 views | Laurel Braitman • TEDSalon NY2014

Behind those funny animal videos, sometimes, are oddly human-like problems. Laurel Braitman studies non-human animals who exhibit signs of mental health issues -- from compulsive bears to self-destructive rats to monkeys with unlikely friends. Braitman asks what we as humans can learn from watching animals cope with depression, sadness and other all-too-human problems.

Behind those funny animal videos, sometimes, are oddly human-like problems. Laurel Braitman studies non-human animals who exhibit signs of mental health issues -- from compulsive bears to self-destructive rats to monkeys with unlikely friends. Braitman asks what we as humans can learn from watching animals cope with depression, sadness and other all-too-human problems.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Laurel Braitman

Laurel Braitman

Writer, secular chaplain-in-training

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Laurel Braitman is a best-selling author and teacher who helps physicians, medical students and staff communicate more clearly and vulnerably, for the benefit of themselves and their patients.

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This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.