Mental Health, Suicide, & the Power of Community | Haley DeGreve | TEDxYouth@Davenport

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Published 2022-04-12
In today's world, mental health and suicide prevention must become a top priority. As suicide is a leading cause of death in Americans, it's also the most preventable. How do we even begin to make a difference? With the right tools and resources, the power of community can help heal our broken world, one person at a time. It starts right here. It starts with you. Haley DeGreve is a John Deere Communications Specialist and 2020 graduate of Augustana College. Throughout her education, she was inspired to start a mental health awareness and suicide prevention non-profit called The Gray Matters Collective in 2018. The collective became a movement filled with hope, support, and healing for thousands – becoming a nationally recognized movement through the University of Michigan Depression Center. Since she began mental health advocacy in 2018, she’s spoken at many local schools, events, and workplaces to advocate against mental health stigma and educate crisis intervention. As current president and founder of The Gray Matters Collective, she hopes to change the world, one person at a time. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
All Comments (21)
  • @rotizin6529
    i just recently went through a moment of thinking about taking my own life. i stood in my bathroom with a handful of pills in my hand. in my mind i thought my wife kids and family would be so much better without me. like no matter what i did i failed. failed as a husband as a father an as son and brother. the pain would never go away. that ending it all would be a quick and easy fix. as i was standing there with those pills in my hand(my wife was banging on our bedroom door cause i locked the door, screaming my name to please open the door) but i couldnt hear her voice. everything was silent. only thought was i dont want to hurt anymore. sec later i finally hear a sound and it is my daughters voice like it was echoing in my head, "daddy i love you" then came my 2 boys voices saying the same thing. their faces popped up in my head one by one. an it was like i could see again and relised what i was holding and what i was thinking about doing. i looked up into the mirror and i was balling tears down my face. didnt even know i was crying. that is one of the scarest moments of my life. when i relised that i wouldnt see those 3 beautiful faces anymore and it was going to be because of something i did. i never want to have that feeling anymore in my life. and since then i have been talking more to my wife and kids about my problems. thanks for listening.
  • @jagjr44
    "Our brains are literally more resilient when we're together." Wow! Very inspiring.
  • @tommycmarciano
    Even the brightest glow sticks have to break first to shine! ❤
  • @tonycoleman2184
    I've found myself thinking about a friend of mine named Butch who once asked me about getting a gun from me I went to his house with my unloaded .357. I showed him the gun and said "I can't give this to you without knowing why you asked me for it." He told me and I confronted the person he had the issue with him and to all appearances they never had another problem, I didn't give him the gun. Then about five months later we me some of our friends and him were at his house drinking. He said something about a game and went in the house coming out with a gun and said let's play russian roulette. I got up and started walking toward totally unsure exactly how to get it out of his hand. I was about six foot away when I said you know the rule the one you ask plays first. He put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. I lost one of my best friends that night and I thank God I wasn't the one that gave him the gun. Me and his father helped each other Through the days that followed by talking about it. I'll see you when I get there my friend.
  • @jenjacobs4197
    This was extremely moving, as someone who is currently working through a crisis. Thank you so much for this ❤
  • @Anotherhumanexisting
    It’s not about feeling worthless. It’s about being in physical pain. Every. Single. Day.
  • @420yoga4pain
    your words are wonderfully sincere, but I have been looking for someone to care for 50 years. They never did care , but it is astonishing how much more they can care less as time goes on. And the people who are supposed to love you are actively trying to hurt you. This world makes no sense to me. my heart hurts so much. some of us really do have no one.
  • @tatianamontesinos2557
    This is wonderful, I listened a couple of times, and I find it powerful every single time.
  • @rishabshah7790
    It's great that she got the help that she needed and people rallied up for her, but it's not as simple as asking for help Or having a good intention to help. I have tried many therapy sessions, spoken to my friends but ultimately it lead no where, I can explain why that is but this comment will get a lot longer. My point is People's life's are complex and long term support is draining on people even with the best of intentions, there are so many factors at play where it all boils down to you or the person you are trying to help. In the long run for cases where providing support gets exhausting is the thing we need to come up with some solution, or " Every life matters " Will always be just a phrase.
  • @rjvagv1
    You are such an inspiration Haley. I attempted to take my life few years ago. When I came to in the hospital 2 days later, my thoughts was "God was not ready for me yet"
  • @codycampbellcontracting7132
    Good for you what if it’s like my son no one knew anything was wrong. He died and no one saves him. What do you say to this one. Saying all suicides are preventable leaves a lot of people thinking they could have done more and it’s just not true. I don’t know the answers at all. I appreciate what you’re doing. Awareness is the key indeed
  • @aaronhoste4074
    A truly amazing young women, the QC is better because of her!
  • @lalala9289
    I could never imagine how someone would feel before suicide ... until i used lyrica for four months. It was the worst thing that ever happened to me ... Within a week i went from feeling depressed to extremely suicial. My body shut down completely, i had no energy left for anything, when i tried to eat i threw up, i turned my back on frinds an family and was completly isolated ... I lost all control of my thoughts and actions and i thought i was going to die My body basicly told me that it was time to. i couldnt even talk to someone even though may friends and family cared... I took valium for a week and stopped taking Lyrica and it was way better afterwards. I think im still a little traumatized after that ... i dont know if it would heva helped me, if someone aked me if i had these thoughts ... but i think so. If you feel someone is having such thoughts, please ask them, because they cant tell you!