Resources for Communication

Videos:

Good relationships are the key to healing trauma | Karen Treisman | TEDxWarwickSalon
A compassionate TEDx talk highlighting how healing trauma depends on strong relationships and coordinated, society-wide systems, informed by Dr. Karen Treisman’s global clinical experience.

How to talk about mental health without offending everyone | Dan Berstein
A powerful personal and professional story showing how lived experience with bipolar disorder and conflict-resolution skills can break stigma, challenge assumptions, and open more honest conversations about mental health.

Own Your Behaviours, Master Your Communication, Determine Your Success | Louise Evans | TEDxGenova
A compelling call to action that introduces The 5 Chairs as a practical framework for consciously choosing behaviors that create healthier, more effective leadership at work and at home.

The beauty and complexity of finding common ground | Matt Trombley”
A reflective talk: Matt Trombley explores how finding common ground, rather than rigid positions, can lead to more respectful, productive disagreement and deeper understanding.

Your personality and your brain | Scott Schwefel | TEDxBrookings
Scott Schwefel explains how self-awareness and brain science shape communication, helping people connect more effectively with others.

Articles & Other Resources:

Ask Dr. Amador – Navigating Severe Mental Illness
A discussion with Dr. Xavier Amador on navigating severe mental illness, covering challenges like anosognosia and strategies for communication and support.

Developing Strategies and Finding Community: My Experience in Support Groups
A NAMI blog post recounting how long-term participation in peer-led support groups helped a family member develop communication skills, deepen understanding of borderline personality disorder, and build community while navigating mental health challenges.

Having Accountability Conversations: The XYZ Method
A practical guide to using the “X, Y, Z” script to hold clear, non-accusatory accountability conversations and set boundaries with someone on the autism spectrum by focusing on observable behavior and personal feelings.

How to talk about mental health, according to the experts – CBS story
A practical guide from CBS News on talking about mental health, showing how experts recommend using respectful language, asking open-ended questions, and listening with empathy to support understanding and reduce stigma.

How to Rebuild Trust With Someone Who Hurt You
A relationship guide outlining four key steps—self-forgiveness, forgiving the other, rebuilding self-trust, and cautiously trusting again to help restore trust after someone has hurt you.

I’m Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help! – Dr. Xavier Amador at TEDxOrientHarbor
A TEDx talk by Dr. Xavier Amador explaining the LEAP communication approach and how recognizing anosognosia—when someone doesn’t realize they’re ill—can improve conversations and support for people experiencing psychosis or other serious mental health challenges.

LEAP (Listen-Empathize-Agree-Partner®) Webinar with Dr. Amador LIVE- Mental Illness & Trusting Partnerships
A live 2-hour LEAP Institute webinar with Dr. Xavier Amador teaching how to build trusting, collaborative relationships with people experiencing serious mental illness and anosognosia to improve engagement in treatment and support.

Power of Connection: Co-facilitating a NAMI Support Group
A NAMI resource explaining how co-facilitating peer-led support groups fosters connection, shared experience, and mutual support to strengthen mental health and community well-being.

The Importance of Social Connections for People with SMI
An explanation of how sustained social connections help stabilize mood, reduce isolation, and support recovery and emotional well-being for people living with serious mental illness (SMI).

The Psychology of Expectations
A Psychology Today blog explaining that simply expecting outcomes without realistic, actionable reasons leads to disappointment and resentment because expectations alone do not make things happen.

Your Story Can Change Hearts, Minds and Policy
A NAMI advocacy blog explaining how sharing your personal lived-experience stories can move hearts and minds and influence policymakers to improve mental health systems and policy.