Breaking Stigma, Finding Strength | Karima Bakhnach | TEDxAmerican School of Marrakesh

In this powerful and deeply personal talk, Karima, a second-year nursing student, shares her journey through mental health struggles, misdiagnosis, and the stigma that often silences those in need. With courage and honesty, she recounts how seeking help, entering a psychiatric clinic, and embracing therapy transformed her life. Karima's message is clear: asking for help is not weakness—it's humanity. Through her story, she urges us to replace judgment with kindness and work together to end the stigma around mental health, for ourselves and the generations to come. I’m Karima Bakhnach, a second-year nursing student at UM6P, and in my TEDx talk, I will share a deeply personal journey through mental health struggles. I’ll speak about the challenges I faced, the isolation I experienced, and how I managed to overcome it and emerge stronger.
I chose this topic because I believe it’s crucial to prioritize our mental health just as we do our physical health, as mental health challenges are often overlooked. My talk is an invitation to those who are struggling to understand that they are not alone and that recovery is possible. And I’m here to empower individuals to take charge of their mental health, seek help when needed, and break the stigma that too often surrounds mental health struggles. Through my story, I aim to inspire a culture of openness, resilience, and support. 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