TIPS005: Transforming Stigma and Punching it in the Face with Mike Veny

TIPS003: Mrs. D is Going Without and Going Sober with Lotta Dann
July 29, 2017
TIPS006: Surviving my Past with Matt Pappas
August 9, 2017

TIPS005: Transforming Stigma and Punching it in the Face with Mike Veny




Mike Veny, a Queens NY native, has fifteen years of experience as a speaker on mental health. He is also a professional drummer and incorporates drumming into many of his presentations. As aĀ 2017 PM360 ELITE Award Winner, Mike is recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in the healthcare industry

Click to tweet: Mike Veny shares his incredible journey on the iā€™Mpossible Project Show!

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Time Stamped Notes

  • 1.37 Mike speaks on mental health all around the U.S. because of his own mental health challenges
  • 1.54 Mike, 38 years old, is also a professional drummer and now incorporates drumming into many of his speeches on mental health
  • 3:00 Mike began drumming in the 5th grade because it was the only thing that calmed him down when his behavioral issues flared up at school
  • 6.10 Mike was expelled from 3 schools and put into a mental hospital 3 times and attempted suicide at the age of 10. He was finally diagnosed with clinical (long term) depression
  • 7.54 Josh analogizes his own depression as: cycling thoughts and when going through a lengthy episode itā€™s like a tiny nagging headache behind his eye
  • 10.33 While in grade school and high school, Mike got good as a drummer, which then helped raise his self-esteem, which in turn helped him make better choices and helped him find the capacity to begin to learn to manage his depression
  • 10.56 Mike is currently training in improv theater in New York City!
  • 15.04 Mike once went to Haiti and helped teach a entrepreneurship camp to locals
  • 17.05 Josh says that when sharing oneā€™s story, especially when it has to do with tragedy or trauma or a big obstacle, one needs to first share in a safe place because sharing will help bring additional perspective to the tragedy, trauma, or obstacle
  • 20:05 Josh states that we are our own best advocates when it comes to our own physical and mental health
  • 20:35 If he could, Mike would spend several months being a barista at Starbucks so he could learn the success of Starbucksā€™ business model
  • 22:27 Mikeā€™s spirit animal is a goat. Find out more fun facts about Mike in the Quick Fire Round

 

Key points

  • Life is made up of little moments that may eventually add up to something big.
  • Mental illness (and any other kind of physical or mental health condition) looks different on different people. Thereā€™s no ā€œone size fits all.ā€
  • Helping others, volunteering, and giving back are a key component in helping people find purpose and fulfillment.

 

Resources or Websites Mentioned

Mikeā€™s website: www.transformingstigma.com