Adapted from her second TEDx talk, "How to Share You Have Mental Illness (and How to Listen), Hufsa Ahmad shares her personal experiences with being "out" about having mental illness. She also provides guidelines for deciding whether to share you have mental illness, how to self-disclose, and, if you are the recipient of the conversation, how to listen.

1. How to Share You
Have Mental Illness
(and How to Listen)
-Adapted from Hufsa
Ahmad’s 2nd
TEDx talk

2. MY STORY
First, I will share my journey of what it’s
like to be “out” about my mental illness
and what I’ve learned.

3. “
8 years ago: I was sitting on the floor
crying, in fetal position, feeling
ashamed. I whispered my deepest
secret to my friend: I…have…
diabetes.

4. “
I’m kidding. That story doesn’t make
sense, until I tell you my secret was: I
have mental illness.

5. Stigma is the shame and discrimination associated with mental illness.
It has aspects of both Schizophrenia and
Bipolar Disorder…so yes, I won the genetic
lottery ;)
My illness started when I was 10 years old
when I was bullied, became depressed, and
attempted suicide. Growing up I developed
more symptoms, had more suicide attempts,
and began stigmatizing myself.
I have schizoaffective disorder.
STIGMA

6. “
I told myself, “You’re stupid, you’re
crazy, you’re never going to get
better.”

7. I realized that I was not alone, and that recovery was possible.
It was a class just for people with mental
illness to connect and learn from each other.
For the first time, I shared my story and it
was such a cathartic experience. I started to
feel better and started to share my story.
I took a Peer-to-Peer
Recovery Education Course.
TURN OF THE TIDE

8. “
When I was first told people about
my diagnosis, I got stigmatizing
reactions. “Are you sure you’re crazy?
Doesn’t everyone have mood swings?
Why don’t you try kombucha?”

9. CENTERS FORDISEASE CONTROL ANDPREVENTION

10. “ (Kombucha was the worst one.)

11. Like Batman, I have a secret – one that I am not ashamed of.
This time I was not ashamed of having mental
illness. I recognized it was a condition like
diabetes or heart disease, not one to be
ashamed of. This time, my friends welcomed
me with open arms and I was not
stigmatized.
I came from a place of
strength.
THIS TIME, WHEN I TOLD PEOPLE…

12. “
One year ago, I came out to the world
about my mental illness in my first
TEDx talk.

14. From fans on the Internet, friends, other students, some
colleagues, and more.
SUPPORT
MIXED REACTIONS
From haters on the Internet, family members due to
cultural stigma, some colleagues.
LACK OF SUPPORT

15. I told my professor that I have mental illness. She said,
“TAKE YOUR MEDS! TAKE YOUR MEDS!” I thought,
“Lady, you’re 70 years old, I could say the same to you!”
OTHER STIGMA
SOME EXAMPLES OF STIGMA
My aunt was talking about arranging my marriage. She
didn’t want me to tell the prospective husband that I
have mental illness. I said, “Auntie, that’s unethical.”
But she justified it with her own experience.
“Well, I didn’t tell your uncle that I have fibromyalgia.”
(LOL)
CULTURAL STIGMA

16. “
No matter the reception, my story
can save lives. So I choose to be out
about having mental illness. I choose
to be a Stigma Smasher.

18. STATISTICS &
FACTS

19. 43.8 million
adults experience mental illness in a given year
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS

20. 45,000
People died by suicide in 2016
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

21. “
The recent tragic suicides of Kate
Spade & Anthony Bourdain
stimulated the conversation about
mental health and suicide.

23. “
Prince Harry and Oprah are starting a
mental health TV series. And you
know something will be big if it
involves royalty and Oprah.

24. IT’S TIME TO TALK
ABOUT MENTAL
HEALTH.

25. That being said – I can’t tell you whether you should disclose or not, because it is
a personal decision. But I can tell you the risk, benefits, and guidelines.
According to Dr. Patrick Corrigan, leading
stigma researcher (Illinois Institute of
Technology).
…is for ordinary individuals to
share they have mental illness.
THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF COMBATING STIGMA

26. RISKS & BENEFITS
Individuals must carefully consider the risks and
benefits before sharing they have mental
illness.

27. Rejection
RISKS

28. Rejection
RISKS
Discrimination

29. Rejection
RISKS
Discrimination
Disapproval

30. Rejection
RISKS
Discrimination
Disapproval
Self-consciousness

31. Empowering
BENEFITS

32. Empowering
BENEFITS
Self-esteem

33. Empowering
BENEFITS
Self-esteem
Protective Factor Against Stigma

34. Empowering
BENEFITS
Self-esteem
Protective Factor Against Stigma
Support System

36. “
Like Smokey the Bear says, “Only you
can….decide if you want to share that
you have mental illness.” (Didn’t
want to break copyright there)

37. GUIDELINES FOR
SHARING
Share with people you have a strong
relationship with. It is not a confession, and
you don’t have to share more than what
you want to, including your diagnosis.

38. Place of strength
GUIDELINES FOR SHARING

39. Place of strength
GUIDELINES FOR SHARING
Especially not confession

40. Place of strength
GUIDELINES FOR SHARING
Especially not confession
Past and current

41. Place of strength
GUIDELINES FOR SHARING
Especially not confession
Past and current
Strong relationship

42. GUIDELINES FOR
LISTENING
Empathize, be supportive, and don’t judge.

43. Listen
GUIDELINES FOR LISTENING - DOs

44. Listen
GUIDELINES FOR LISTENING - DOs
Empathize

45. Listen
GUIDELINES FOR LISTENING - DOs
Empathize
Ask how you can support them

46. Listen
GUIDELINES FOR LISTENING - DOs
Empathize
Ask how you can support them
Disclose similar experiences

47. Judge
GUIDELINES FOR LISTENING – DON’Ts

48. Judge
GUIDELINES FOR LISTENING – DON’Ts
Unsolicited Advice

49. Judge
GUIDELINES FOR LISTENING – DON’Ts
Unsolicited Advice
Dismiss

50. Judge
GUIDELINES FOR LISTENING – DON’Ts
Unsolicited Advice
Dismiss
Gossip

51. Judge
GUIDELINES FOR LISTENING – DON’Ts
Unsolicited Advice
Dismiss
Gossip
Expect

52. RESOURCES
Information beyond this presentation.

53. National Alliance on Mental Illness
www.nami.org
Honest, Open, Proud: Program that Assists with
Analyzing the Pros and Cons of Disclosing
www.comingoutproudprogram.org
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
FURTHER RESOURCES

55. FOR BOOKING
Hufsa Ahmad is available for booking for
talks, presentations, workshops,
interviews, and more.
Website: www.mentally-chill.com
E-mail: hufsa@mentally-chill.com