After facing her own mental health challenges, Abby is using her TEDx talk to challenge the idea that “being strong” means staying silent. She believes mental health is a shared responsibility and that real change begins now, through how we talk, listen, and support one another. Abby Plom is a seventeen-year-old student at Pākuranga College in Tāmaki Makaurau, where she is also proud to be Head Girl. She is the Chairperson of her local Youth Council, a football player, and someone who loves forcing her friends to care about politics, and curling up with a cup of tea and a good book.But amidst all that, she was also quietly dealing with her own mental health struggles and grief. And through it all, she kept being told the same thing: “Be strong.”There’s this illusion that “being strong” is always helpful — but often, it’s just another way we push people to stay silent. Another way we avoid sitting with discomfort. Another way we make people carry their pain alone. That’s why Abby is stepping onto the TEDx stage — to challenge the belief that mental health is a personal burden. It’s not. It’s a collective responsibility, and we all have a role to play in creating a culture where support is second nature, not a last resort. This message ties directly into this year’s TEDx theme, “The Power of Now.” Because change doesn’t start someday — it starts right now, with how we talk, listen, and show up for each other. 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