There’s No Shame in Taking Care of Your Mental Health | Sangu Delle

TED

In this powerful and personal TED Talk, Sangu Delle confronts the deep-seated stigma surrounding mental health, particularly among African men. He shares his own journey of grappling with anxiety while feeling pressured by cultural expectations to remain stoic and unemotional. Delle recounts a pivotal moment when he realized he could no longer suffer in silence, challenging the dangerous misconception that mental health struggles are a sign of weakness or spiritual failure. The video explores critical themes such as toxic masculinity, the scarcity of mental health resources in developing nations, and the human cost of ignoring psychological well-being. Delle provides startling statistics about the lack of psychiatrists in Nigeria and contrasts scientific understandings of mental illness with prevalent cultural superstitions like witchcraft or divine punishment. For educators, this video is an invaluable resource for discussing emotional intelligence, cultural perspectives on health, and the importance of empathy. It serves as a springboard for students to examine how societal norms influence individual behavior and to understand mental health as a universal human right rather than a taboo subject. It encourages vulnerability and seeks to normalize asking for help.