All In This Together

‘This Is My Brave’ seeks to destigmatize mental illness

When Northwest Arkansas psychotherapist Lauren Levine first read about the “This Is My Brave” project, she was instantly drawn to the idea.

“I thought, ‘I would love to do that!’ I’m a psychotherapist, my degree is in arts therapy, so blending the arts and healing together is what I believe in. So this seemed right up my alley.”

Created three years ago by blogger Jennifer Marshall, the project encourages people struggling with depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder and other mental health issues to share their struggles on stage, in front of an audience. The hope is that vocalizing their battles will help to destigmatize the subject of mental illness.

“There’s something about knowing that you’re not alone in this that helps heal,” observes Levine. “It helps to know there are others talking about this. To paraphrase [researcher and storyteller] Brené Brown, shame is the breeding ground for more shame. But the more we talk out loud, the less we feel shame.”

Levine and co-producer Amber Brown put out a call for participants and gathered people they knew until they had a cast of people eager to share their experiences, which they will do at 7:30 p.m. today in the Northwest Arkansas Community College’s White Auditorium.

“We helped them shape their stories, but we didn’t have to do much,” says Levine. “They’re all beautiful stories.”

Levine says the production will feature a variety of storytelling techniques, from straight monologues to songs and poetry.

“We have a performer whose anxiety is so severe, she didn’t think she would be able to be on stage,” says Levine. “But she had a partner help her make a video.”

The organization’s founder, Jennifer Marshall, plans to attend the performance, and the proceeds of the performance will benefit the national organization.

Levine says she’s realized through her participation in this project just how pervasive the subject of mental health is in today’s culture.

“When we share with people that we’re working on this project, people come forward and say, ‘Boy, do I have a story with you,’” says Levine. “You ask yourself, ‘Why are we so ashamed to share our stories when we could help each other through this?’”