Ideas worth spreading

Don't suffer from your depression in silence

2,752,764 views |

Nikki Webber Allen |

TED Residency

• June 2017

Having feelings isn't a sign of weakness -- they mean we're human, says producer and activist Nikki Webber Allen. Even after being diagnosed with anxiety and depression, Webber Allen felt too ashamed to tell anybody, keeping her condition a secret until a family tragedy revealed how others close to her were also suffering. In this important talk about mental health, she speaks openly about her struggle -- and why communities of color must undo the stigma that misreads depression as a weakness and keeps sufferers from getting help.

Having feelings isn't a sign of weakness -- they mean we're human, says producer and activist Nikki Webber Allen. Even after being diagnosed with anxiety and depression, Webber Allen felt too ashamed to tell anybody, keeping her condition a secret until a family tragedy revealed how others close to her were also suffering. In this important talk about mental health, she speaks openly about her struggle -- and why communities of color must undo the stigma that misreads depression as a weakness and keeps sufferers from getting help.

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

Learn more about I LIVE FOR FOUNDATION initiatives including a documentary film, social media campaign (#storiesbreakstigma) and podcast.

Visit Nikki Webber Allen's homepage.

About the speaker

Nikki Webber Allen

Nikki Webber Allen

Multimedia producer

See speaker profile

Nikki Webber Allen is working to create a safe space for honest conversations about mental health in communities of color.

Brené Brown | Avery, 2015 | Book

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

When I made the decision to be a mental health activist and launch a nonprofit, I was nervous about putting my story out into the world. I had a thousand excuses for why I shouldn't do it ... I wasn't a trained mental health expert; I'd be opening myself up to critics; What if I failed? After reading Daring Greatly, I decided to ignore all of the negative mental chatter and pursue my dreams anyway. Brown convinced me that achieving anything meaningful in life would require me to accept my own vulnerabilities, imperfections and inevitable failures. It's only by moving through (not around!) the discomfort of uncertainty, that I'll be able to build more resilience and ultimately more self-love and compassion. Her TED Talk on vulnerability is a must-see!

Dan Harris | It Books, 2014 | Book

10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works

I loved this book! Written by ABC News correspondent Dan Harris, it's a fun and easy read. After the humiliating experience of having a full-fledged anxiety attack on live television, Harris reluctantly discovered meditation as the pathway to greater happiness and less stress. Even the biggest skeptics would find it hard to argue the benefits of mediation after reading this book.

Mark Manson | HarperOne, 2016 | Book

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

Millennials have been dubbed "the Anxious Generation," as numerous studies have shown that they suffer from a much greater rate of anxiety than previous generations. Mark Manson's book is a totally irreverent, surprisingly thought-provoking look at some of the unique stressors facing them today. According to Manson, the antidote for all of the uncertainty and unhappiness is knowing what's truly important to you and simply not caring about what isn't. I want to make it clear that I don't believe this is a cure for a mental disorder. Anxiety disorder, depression and other mental illnesses need to be treated by licensed professionals. But I do think the advice in this book offers a good framework for living your best life, one that's in alignment with your own, self-determined priorities and values.

Terrie Williams | Scribner, 2009 | Book

Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting

Terrie Williams is one of the most successful public relations executives in the country. She's represented superstar clients like Eddie Murphy and jazz legend Miles Davis. She's also struggled with depression. In this book, Williams lays out the psychological impact of racism and discrimination on black people in America and gives readers an intimate look at her life as a black woman living with depression. Her prescription for relief is faith, therapy and maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes building a supportive network of people and eliminating toxic ones.

Hanna Rosin | The Atlantic, 2015 | Article

"The Silicon Valley Suicides: Why are so many kids with bright prospects killing themselves in Palo Alto"

Laura Heck | Vox, 2015 | Article

"A generation on edge: A look at millennials and mental health"

Samantha Irby | Cosmopolitan, 2015 | Article

"Black Girls Don't Get to Be Depressed"

If you're put off by explicit language then this article isn't for you. Otherwise, it's a very powerful read.

Dr. Donald E. Grant, Jr. | Ebony, 2013 | Article

"Black Suidice: When Prayer is Not Enough"

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I LIVE FOR FOUNDATION, INC.

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National Alliance on Mental Illness

https://www.nami.org/

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Anxiety and Depression Association of America

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

Learn more about I LIVE FOR FOUNDATION initiatives including a documentary film, social media campaign (#storiesbreakstigma) and podcast.

Visit Nikki Webber Allen's homepage.