Ideas change everything

What's so funny about mental illness?

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Ruby Wax |

TEDGlobal 2012

• June 2012

Diseases of the body garner sympathy, says comedian Ruby Wax -- except those of the brain. Why is that? With dazzling energy and humor, Wax, diagnosed a decade ago with clinical depression, urges us to put an end to the stigma of mental illness.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Diseases of the body garner sympathy, says comedian Ruby Wax -- except those of the brain. Why is that? With dazzling energy and humor, Wax, diagnosed a decade ago with clinical depression, urges us to put an end to the stigma of mental illness.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.

Join the Black Dog campaign and find out more about how you can help to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.

About the speaker

Comedian and Mental Health Activist

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Ruby Wax is a loud, funny woman -- who spent much of her comedy career battling depression in silence. Now her work blends mental health advocacy and laughs.

Learn more

Sane New World

Ruby Wax | Hodder & Stoughton (2013)

Ruby Wax - *Sane New World*

Why aren't we asking the big questions about mental health?

We need to be more open when it comes to discussing mental health, says Ruby Wax. She introduces the online network she created to do just that.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.

Join the Black Dog campaign and find out more about how you can help to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.