Fighting Stigma by Sharing Stories: The Greenbrook TMS Tree of Hope

April 18, 2019

As a proud sponsor of This Is My Brave, Greenbrook TMS knows that fighting the stigma of mental illness comes from the power of sharing experiences. It’s only through telling the important stories—the stories of those who struggled through darkness but were able to get the help they needed, the stories of those who fought for their loved ones to get the brighter, fuller lives they deserved—that we can all work to beat the stigma that keeps people from reaching out and getting help.

That’s why we developed our Tree of Hope. Taking the form of either a painting or a sculpture, the trunk of the Greenbrook Tree of Hope branches out with leaves that have room for patients to write notes of encouragement and share their success stories. When our patients visit our centers, they can read these notes and know that they aren’t alone: there is always hope for recovery, even for those who have been struggling with depression or obsessive compulsive disorder for decades.

 

When reading through the notes, it’s clear that mental illness doesn’t discriminate. Our patients –and our Tree of Hope stories—come from all walks and stages of life:

From a college student: “Imagine living your whole life with one hand tied behind your back. At 21, Greenbrook TMS has freed me from the crippling depression I have lived with my whole life. After TMS, I know what hope truly feels like.”

From a busy professional with a hectic schedule: “I found myself less fearful and able to handle confrontations better. I am enjoying exercise and feel less stressed, thanks to Greenbrook TMS.”

From a patient who had been struggling with depression for decades: “After 30 years of medications not quite doing the job and causing unwanted side effects, it’s exhilarating to be free.”

From a parent: “My son and I both are still getting better and better every day since we wrapped up treatment. What a blessing! Every day I notice something a little different. Here’s to remission and continued healing!”

We know that beginning TMS Therapy or any kind of treatment for mental illness can be an act of tremendous courage. It’s our firm belief that walking into one of our centers and seeing the Tree of Hope or attending a This Is My Brave show is critical to ending the stigma. It’s one thing to read statistics on mental illness— it’s another to see and hear from people who are fighting and healing. We applaud Jennifer and all of the cast members of This Is My Brave for sharing their powerful stories and inspiring others to do the same.

To learn more about our Tree of Hope, watch the video below:

Greenbrook TMS Therapy is an FDA-cleared, non-drug, and non-invasive treatment for depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. Visit www.greenbrooktms.com to learn more.