Howie Mandel - Bell Let's Talk Assignment

Avery Longhurst / Block 2-1

I think that a lot of people, including myself, can relate to this quote, “The diagnosis is
‘you’re human’...” said by Howie Mendel during a mental health interview. I know that being
successful can be a huge stressor in many people's lives, and making mistakes can sometimes
prevent you from being successful right off the bat. I am guilty of being way too hard on myself
all the time, if I don’t get something right from the start I get frustrated and feel like I’ll never be
able to do it. That’s why I completely understand how this quote can affect the people who might
have a hard time understanding that you can’t be perfect all the time. My mom has said
something very similar on more than one occasion so I can totally relate to this quote.
The second quote kind of goes hand in hand with the first quote I chose to write about,
“Just being a human you are struggling. You are not alone. You are not the only person on the
planet.” I honestly can relate to this quote so much because sometimes when I make a mistake
it feels like I’m the only person on the planet, like I’m the only person that messes up and makes
mistakes. Making a mistake can feel humiliating all on its own, but many people, myself
included, don’t open up about how they went wrong or how they can improve so they don’t
make the same mistake in the future. I think there is a huge stigma about being able to talk
about the mistakes you make, many people might think that making a mistake automatically
makes them a failure and they might be embarrassed to talk about the certain mistake they
made. Everyone should be able to talk about the mistakes they make instead of dwelling on
them without the help and support of the people around them. Everyone makes mistakes but
sometimes it's hard to remember that you’re not the only one who can mess up in this world.
I think that Howie has done a lot of good by talking about mental health publically, and
how his own mental health struggles have impacted his life and family. Talking about it really
helps reduce the stigma about the struggles of mental health and personally, I think that
everyone should be educated on mental health and how to deal with the signs and symptoms
properly and in a healthy way.