NOTE FROM TED: Please consult a mental health professional if you are struggling. This talk contains a discussion of suicidal ideation. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/t...

How does it feel when you have a conversation with someone who has had a similar experience as you? From pursuing her dream of becoming a clown for Ringling Brothers Circus to now working in the behavioral health field as a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist, Beth Walters shares about the impact of connection through peer support. From pursuing her dream of becoming a clown for Ringling Brothers Circus to now working in the behavioral health field as a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist, Beth Walters is extremely passionate about the impact of connection & bringing awareness to the field of peer support. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the State University of New York at Oneonta in 2016 with a degree in Communication Studies & minor in Theatre. Although college provided an abundance of knowledge & experiences, the most meaningful knowledge Beth obtained was through finding her own pathway to recovery from mental health challenges. She is presently the supervisor of a substance use peer support program at a local non-profit behavioral health agency & has past experience providing peer support to individuals struggling with suicidal ideation.

In her self-care time, Beth enjoys listening to Chelsea Handler & self-help podcasts, watching documentaries, and hanging out with her two cats Kiara & Kovu. 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