In this inspiring and deeply personal TEDx talk, Simone shares her mental health journey and how healing others became a path to healing herself. Challenging the familiar airline safety metaphor—"secure your own mask before assisting others"—she asks: what if helping others is how we learn to breathe ourselves? Simone deconstructs the three sweeping misconceptions about mental health and shows how interpersonal connection, community support, and collective unity are the keys to transforming the conversation and culture around mental health.Whether you're someone who's struggled or someone who wants to better support others, Simone offers a hopeful and practical framework: I.C.U.—Interpersonal, Community, and Unity—to remind us that we are not alone and never have to be. "Simone Vinay is a high school student from California passionate about mental wellness, activism, and civic engagement. As the founder of a teen mental health initiative dedicated to empowering young people and fostering conversations around mental health, she actively works to destigmatize mental health challenges and build a community around experiences. Ever since she was a little girl, she has been performing atop stages and before audiences, wining state and national championships in oratory, but now as a mental health leader in her community, Simone couples her love for communication and public speaking with her dedication to social issues including the destigmatization of mental illness within our adolescents and teens. Her dedication to creating a more understanding and outspoken society drives her volunteer work and her message. " 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