MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
THE JOURNEY OF ONE MIND TO MANY Healing the Self to Healing the System by B randon S taglin
S ince a terrifying summer evening 35 years ago when my first psychotic episode began, I have lived with schizophrenia. As a young man dealing with tidal waves of delusions and a difficult care system, a sense my identity, future, and self-esteem had been sucked into oblivion. As a result, suicidal thoughts closed in. Every morning when I opened my eyes, I faced the challenge of living one more day. Since then, my life and career have evolved in unexpected directions, and now I feel stronger
wellness, and public perception. With science as our cor- nerstone and people at the heart of all we do, our programs are setting new standards and redefining the future of mental health. Our programs form a pipeline to develop better sup- ports for mental health, from discovery to development to distribution. Our Rising Star Awardee scientists annually discover new biomedical pathways toward better mental illness treatments. We support them so they can com-
because of my experiences. Where once healing myself seemed beyond reach, now I reach for healing the system. Self-doubt gnawed at me as I began to recover thanks to science-based early care, my family’s loving support, and staying involved with my community to rebuild my sense of purpose. Was I falling irretrievably behind my peers in experiences, accomplishments, and matu-
mercialize their discoveries through industry partnerships and entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurs who we sup- port through our One Mind Accelerator program work to scale such treatments and services through their start- ups. Our One Mind at Work program supports hundreds of member companies with innovative tools, resources, and guidance to promote, protect, and provide for their
Brandon Staglin, with parents and co-founders Shari and Garen Staglin, welcomes guests to the 30th One Mind Music Festival.
rity? When a second episode struck six years after the first, the setback it dealt devastated my confidence. Though new medications helped to manage my symptoms, would I ever regain my focus, motivation, and ability to form satisfying
employees’ mental health. Finally, our One Mind Lived Experience Initiative, which I chair, connects leaders from all of these programs with expert advocates who have personal mental illness experience to guide those leaders to understand and address the needs of the communities they serve. TRUSTED EXPERIENCE The One Mind Lived Experience Initiative aims to heal a debilitating rift in the mental healthcare system. In a world where trust in that system is ebbing, we envision a brighter future where people with lived experience (PWLE) of mental illness are more than just participants. They are essential partners whose unique insights and perspectives drive transformations, promoting a more inclusive and empathetic approach to mental health research, innova- tion, and services. Science shows that involving PWLE in the design of mental health research and services enhances the quality, accessibility, and creativity of solutions while empowering PWLE, decreasing stigma, and deepening trust. Though interest in this field is growing in Europe, the U.S. has been slow to catch on. By guiding and forming rapport with our supported scientists, entrepreneurs, busi- ness leaders, and – soon – federal policymakers, our Lived Experience Council will restore the trust and mutual sup- port between stakeholders throughout the system.
relationships? FINDING MUSIC
I discovered music as a fun creative outlet, and soon learned it could offer much more. As I practiced guitar over the years, I found it restored my ability to concen- trate, to feel genuine emotions, and to connect fluently with others. These experiences, which I shared with my family, inspired us in 1995 to found One Mind, a nonprofit that has since grown into a powerhouse change-agent for men- tal health. Fittingly, we launched One Mind with a fund- raising event called The One Mind Music Festival. Now, this annual celebration has become a definitive anchor event, featuring leading artists such as Jennifer Hudson, Sheryl Crow, and One Republic, along with talks by leading scientists and innovators including three past National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) directors. A MENTAL HEALTH MOVEMENT Today, One Mind leads a transformative movement in mental health, delivering innovative solutions to address critical gaps in mental health research, care, workplace
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8 THE EXCHANGE
MARCH 2025
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