HomeBlogPatient“This Is My Brave” Helps End Mental-Illness Stigma, One Story at a Time “This Is My Brave” Helps End Mental-Illness Stigma, One Story at a Time April 25, 2016Patient Jennifer Marshall believes storytelling saves lives. That’s the inspiration behind This Is My Brave, the nonprofit organization Marshall created with the mission to end the stigma surrounding mental illness through live, lyrical performances of poetry, essay and song. Staged in cities across America, “This Is My Brave: The Show” gives voice to people touched by difficult yet treatable mental health issues, from depression and anxiety to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Local auditions draw performers from the community, and a chosen cast of a dozen artists takes the stage for a one-night-only show filled with personal stories about living with—or loving someone with—a mental illness. Through storytelling and shared experience, a deeper understanding emerges. “It’s the power of the human connection,” says Marshall, who co-founded This Is My Brave with her business partner Anne Marie Ames. “We all want to be heard, especially when one is going through something as significant as a mental illness. We want to know that we’ll be OK, and when we’re able to listen to a story told by someone who was able to claw their way out of a suicidal depression, we find hope.” Marshall has shared her own story of living with bipolar disorder on her blog Bipolar Mom Life. Diagnosed 10 years ago, and finding stability through maintenance medication, the mother of two says that while our culture has made progress in ending mental illness stigma, we still have a long way to go. “The more we’re able to put our names and faces to our stories, the same way someone who has overcome cancer can feel pride in having beaten that disease, the more the general public will understand that mental illness is the same as physical illness,” she says. “The brain is an organ of the body just like our hearts, lungs and kidneys. Sometimes our brains get sick and need treatment, and no one should be ashamed or afraid of being discriminated upon because of this.” During May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, This Is My Brave will bring new local productions to five cities: Greenville, North Carolina; Coralville, Iowa; Arlington, Virginia; Denver, Colorado; and Valparaiso, Indiana. In each location, the show will capture the artistic talents of brave truth-sharers from the community who will deliver their stories through orated essays, spoken-word poetry and original songwriting and music. Marshall hopes that hearing about others’ journeys will help open up conversation and encourage more people to share their experiences too. “The audience appreciation and gratitude for these inspiring stories is what keeps us going,” she says. Beyond the stage, This Is My Brave also publishes personal narratives on its blog, as well as performance pieces through its YouTube channel. Each story has the potential to open up people’s minds and hearts to the realities of mental illness, replacing stigmas and stereotypes with much-needed sensitivity and understanding. The information on this website is provided as a general information resource only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. 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As with all genetic tests, the GeneSight test results have limitations and do not constitute medical advice. The test results are designed to be just one part of a larger, complete patient assessment, which would include proper diagnosis and consideration of your medical history, other medications you may be taking, your family history, and other factors. If you are a healthcare provider and interested in learning more about the GeneSight test, please contact us at 855.891.9415. If you are a patient, please talk with your doctor to see if the GeneSight test may be helpful. Patient Barriers at Every Turn: How Systemic and Social Factors Block Men from Mental Health Care Taking the important step of seeking care for mental health isn’t always an easy decision. Uncertainty about the need for care, social stigmas associated wi... 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Patient Barriers at Every Turn: How Systemic and Social Factors Block Men from Mental Health Care Taking the important step of seeking care for mental health isn’t always an easy decision. Uncertainty about the need for care, social stigmas associated wi... Read more
Healthcare Provider Overcoming Side Effect Concerns: Leveraging Pharmacogenomic Insights to Inform Depression and Anxiety Medication Selection Whitnee Brown, a lifelong resident now practicing in Birmingham, Alabama has nearly an entire alphabet following her name, abbreviations for degrees and certifi... Read more
Patient Concerns about Mental Health Medication Side Effects Remain a Barrier to Getting Help for Those Diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety Lisa Roberts has raised a family, reached an impressively high level in her career, and was an anchor for her mother and other family members. When, within ... Read more
Patient Common Antidepressant Side Effects Taking an antidepressant can be an effective way to help treat a mental health condition like depression or anxiety. However, these medications can also cre... Read more
Patient MTHFR Mutations: Clinical Implications and Management Strategies MTHFR mutations—changes in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene—have gained increased attention in the medical community due to their potent... Read more
Patient Can an App Help Me Manage My Anxiety? Health and wellness smartphone apps have become so common that if you can name a health goal, desire or condition, you can probably find an app for it. N... Read more
Patient Black Trailblazers of Psychiatry and Mental Health: A Legacy of Healing and Advocacy As we celebrate Black History Month, we want to recognize a few individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of psychiatry and mental heal... Read more
Patient Mindful Moments: Tips for Anxiety If a well-meaning friend or family member has ever told you to “just breathe” when you’re feeling worked up or stressed out, you’d be forgiven if you felt l... Read more
Patient Hints To Help You Have A Better New Year The holidays have ended, and a new year has begun—a time when many embrace a fresh start by setting New Year’s resolutions. This year, why not consider s... Read more
Patient Movement as Medicine: Solutions for Anxiety Moving forward. It sounds like a nice idea, especially when you’re feeling stuck deep in the throes of an anxiety spiral. But it turns out that physically m... Read more