Our Patients Are Our People

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and I think we can agree there is a special poignancy attached to the observance this year. Cases of depression are rising across the country, mainly due to pandemic-fueled economic and interpersonal hardship, and there is a newly reported – but certainly not surprising – link between COVID-19 and neurological or mental disorders. Now, as we all inch closer to life that more closely resembles our world pre-COVID, experts agree we are caught in the headwinds of a nationwide mental health pandemic and will be for some time.

If there is a silver lining to these staggering reports, it is that the importance of mental health has been brought to the forefront. As diagnoses of mental health-related illnesses increase and conversations about the mental health crises continue among experts and celebrities alike, it is becoming more apparent than ever that depression does not discriminate – it affects people from all walks of life. In fact, depression currently impacts more than 17.3 million American adults and it is very likely we each know someone who is struggling with the disease – whether it be a friend, loved one or co-worker.

I am fortunate to know individuals who have struggled with depression and transformed their lives after NeuroStar Advanced Therapy treatments – both in my personal and professional life. Today, I am proud to spotlight brave NeuroStar team members who fall into this category – real people, real patients, who are also our people at Neuronetics. They are passionate advocates who proudly share their stories in the hopes of helping others fight their own depression battles, and in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I’d like to give them a spotlight they most certainly deserve.

Bridget: Bridget’s depression began when she was a teenager, and while antidepressants helped her remain functional for years, her symptoms persisted into adulthood. A year after working as a NeuroStar Practice Consultant, she decided it was time to try NeuroStar Advanced Therapy for herself. Now, she says she’s excited to wake up in the morning and uses her story to inspire hope in her patients.

Eric: After surgical complications left him on life support, Eric spent years recovering and fell into a deep depression. After several failed antidepressant trials, he was referred to NeuroStar Advanced Therapy. A few weeks into treatment, he says something just clicked. The way he tells it, he walked out of his appointment and vowed to work for NeuroStar one day. And now? Eric is a proud NeuroStar Practice Consultant who operates with empathy and an authentic perspective that he says makes him more effective at his job.

Cara: Cara, another patient-turned-employee, suffered from treatment-resistant depression for close to two decades. She found relief through NeuroStar after countless unsuccessful trials with antidepressants. Her renewed energy and passion for the treatment led her to pursue a career at NeuroStar. She’s now a few months into her role as a Clinical Training Consultant, who can bond with patients and offer insights to doctors because she’s walked in their footsteps.

We are all living the mission at NeuroStar, and employees like Bridget, Eric and Cara don’t just live it; their lives have been forever changed because of it. This Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond, I want to remind people fighting against depression that they are not alone – our NeuroStar employee patient advocates are living proof of that. They are also living proof that NeuroStar Advanced Therapy makes a difference. I’m incredibly proud to be part of a company that is taking major steps to improve lives, and I’m equally proud to see this improvement firsthand in my colleagues.

Perhaps the good that will come out of this mental health pandemic is permanent, increased awareness surrounding the prevalence of depression. Perhaps individuals in need will continue learning about the diverse treatment options, like NeuroStar, at their fingertips. I know our employee patient advocates are helping to make this happen and I am honored to celebrate their journeys this month and every month.