Do we have mental health figured out all wrong? The possibilities of treatment lie in the gut, far away from the brain. Listen to Kathleen explore alternative forms of mental health treatment. "Research has always been my passion. I have always had a desire to know how the natural world works and spent a large portion of my childhood collecting insects and plants so that I could observe their life cycles. While other children played video games I concocted nectar mixtures to feed several species of butterfly that I had raised from caterpillars or cleaned out silkworm enclosures. When I turned 14, I became severely ill with what was suspected to be a psychiatric episode. I experienced firsthand the stigma that mentally ill individuals face both from the health professionals that are meant to care for them and from society. This made me determined to channel my love for
research into a medical career which I am pursuing today as a medical student; to make a difference in the lives of those afflicted by mental illness. I am actively involved in the TUKS Undergraduate Research Forum which promotes undergraduate research and has exposed me to many research opportunities." 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