NOTE FROM TED: This talk contains a discussion of suicidal ideation. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/t...

In the arena of mental health care, standard approaches do not always work. The speaker, who - at 18 years of age - has endured more than a half-decade of mental health challenges and institutionalization, proposes adding self-acceptance, including acceptance of one’s current mental health state; self-trust; and other inward-focused attitudes to mental health therapy.

Piper is a young adult who has just graduated from high school, now into her freshman year of college, where she is studying nursing. Piper is a co-author of the book “Unconditional” where she shares her story going through mental health struggles as an adolescent. In her free time she likes to travel, go to concerts, write music, and swim. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx