Theme: Defining and analyzing the relationship between all forms of violence and mental health

TedxYouth@AOC is a TEDx Event that will be carefully covering the burgeoning relationship between violence, of all forms, and mental health. The term “mental health” has typically been used as a scapegoat to divert national outrage, thus attaching a social stigma to the word. This social perception is further supplemented through the media’s trivialization and sensationalization of violent crimes committed by people with mental illnesses. This leads many to intentionally disregard the fact that most violent crimes are not committed by those possessing a mental illness. It is vital to ask: are violence and mental illness synonymous, connected, or just coincidental phenomena and if they are, how so? It is essential to define what mental health is and who the mentally ill are. To understand where the term "violence" no longer stays an abstract in regards to the mentally ill population, TedxYouth@AOC will be hosting four individual TED talks with extremely experienced individuals who will present their unique perspective and analysis on the following issue.

26455 Rockwell Canyon rd
Santa Clarita, California, 91355
United States

Azadeh Azmoudeh

Pyschologist

Psychologist, more details TBA

Hannah Denyer

Educator

Rape Prevention Education Coordinator at Peace Over Violence

Najeeba Syeed

Peacemaker, Healer, Scholar

Najeeba Syeed is Associate Professor of Interreligious Education at Claremont School of Theology and director of the Center for Global Peacebuilding. Professor Syeed is recognized as a leader in peacebuilding and twice received the Jon Anson Ford Award for reducing violence in schools and in the area of interracial gang conflicts and was named Southern California Mediation Association’s “Peacemaker of the Year” in 2007. She has chaired national conferences on Muslim and Interfaith Peacebuilding, served as a mediator in many cases, started mediation programs in many institutions including University of Southern California and several middle and high schools. Schools have reported a drop in disciplinary referrals and violence. Her track record as a peacemaker has made her sought out advisor for state, federal and White House initiatives, and in international conflicts in Guam, Afghanistan, Israel, Palestine, India and France.