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You HAVE to watch this TEDx Talk called, Let’s Give Face To Mental Illness

Ann Marie Langrehr
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Winthrop chapter.

Let’s Give Face to Mental Illness

Emily Torchiana | TEDxCharleston

“Quite often those suffering from mental illness are completely indistinguishable from everyone else, at least from the outside. Although the illness is often invisible, Emily Torchiana says, it is no less debilitating and difficult to share with even one’s closest friends and family. The term mental health has a negative stigma attached to it and it is looked down upon in our society to discuss the parts of us where the struggle resides.

Emily Torchiana, a brave and insightful former College of Charleston student, opens up about her own behind closed doors battles with mental illness while in high school and how she now works to encourage others to step forward and put a face on mental illness.

She speaks across the country at schools and conferences about her experience with severe cyberbullying in high school, leading to a suicide attempt, hospitalization, and diagnosis of PTSD, depression, and social anxiety. Emily started a non-profit organization while in college that eases the extremely difficult process of bringing invisible illnesses into the light and giving others permission to see the strength in their struggle.

A former College of Charleston student, Emily Torchiana has emerged from the shadows of cyberbullying and suicide attempts to turn life’s darkest moments into moments of meaning for others who need a mental health hero. 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“

– YouTube Video Description

“It takes strength to ask for help, and it is okay not ot be ok. Don’t give up on your life. It’s time to remove your mask and start fighting.” – Torchiana

 

Share this video with others to help educate and spread awareness. 

Paris Enthusiast. Macaron Lover. Lacrosse Player. Avid Photo Taker. Social Media Junkie. Travel Bug. ​ Born in Dallas Texas, but raised in the cities of West Chester, Pennsylvania, and Greenville, South Carolina. Ann Marie is a twenty-one year old student athlete living in Rock Hill, South Carolina where she attends Winthrop University as a mass communication major.  ​Currently, she is the Editor-in Chief, Campus Coorespondant and one of the social media directors of her college's Her Campus chapter where she edits articles, runs her chapter, and assists in running the Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and Pinterest page. She also helps write articles with a team of 50+ writers who put out content daily. On top of Her Campus Winthrop and classes, Ann Marie plays on the Women's Lacrosse Team at Winthrop at the Division 1 level. Over the years, Ann Marie has learned the value of hard work, developed skills of teamwork, as well as expanded her knowledge marketing, writing, editing, publishing, social media and communication skills, which will give her the ability to be successful in any field.  Outside of her busy lifestyle, she enjoys being home with her family, dogs, and twin. On the weekends she likes to plan adventures with her friends and is on the ultimate search for America's best pistachio macaron, and dreams about going back to Paris, France and eat all the baguettes France has. Her dream is to inspire people and spread positivity while becoming a travel blogger taking pictures of her adventures and sharing them with the world. Ann Marie aspires to be like Blair Waldorf and can't live without her phone, french fries, Demi Lovato music, Gossip Girl, and of course chicken nuggets.