Shania Clark’s TED Talk: Mental Health & Women — A Reflection

I recently watched a TED Talk by Shania Clark entitled “Mental Health & Women.” I really learned a lot watching her speak, and I wanted to share some specific things I enjoyed about her speech.

Shania Clark: Mental Health & Women | TED Talk

Clark began the TED Talk by describing a series of double standards for women. She then zoomed in more specifically and started to discuss the sector of mental health. I thought this was an effective transition especially because it allowed her to provide increasingly specific real-life experiences that females in the audience could relate to.

Clark commented that society encourages women to discuss their mental health, but simultaneously calls them “weak” upon them doing so. However, as she continued her TED Talk, I liked how she repeatedly emphasized the strength of women, to combat these stereotypes.

By using phrases like “It is ok to talk about mental health,” and “Everyone in this room has mental health,” Clark created a warm atmosphere and comforting environment for women. I believe this is really important for encouraging more women to take care of their well-being.

I admire how Clark referred to her own lived experiences and childhood. She talked about how her mother did everything in her power to take care of her mental health, but as a result, ended up neglecting her own mental health. The inclusion of this personal anecdote adds an extra dimension of emotional connection and relatability for listeners.

Finally, Clark’s message near the end of her talk was to “Hear them out.” Thinking about prior research I’ve done about women’s self-monitoring and experiences with medical care, I can’t help but agree with Clark — the best solution to improving women’s mental health is to just listen to their voices.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Clark share her opinions on women’s mental health. She is incredibly well-spoken, and I learned a lot.