BEHIND THE BRAVE FACE A Candid Conversation on Trauma, Mental Health & Care

Join us for a candid conversation on trauma, mental health, and care. This in-person event is all about opening up, sharing experiences, and breaking the stigma around mental health struggles for patients, families and caregivers. Come as you are, connect with others who get it, and let's talk honestly about what it's really like behind the brave face we all wear sometimes. Don’t miss out on this heartfelt and eye-opening gathering!

Info: Focus: Lived Experience; Emotional Impact
Talking Points:
 What people don’t see behind living with sickle cell
 Emotional toll of chronic pain, hospitalizations, and uncertainty
 Experiences with stigma or being misunderstood in medical settings
 Mental health challenges (anxiety, depression, trauma responses)
 What support has helped — and what support is still needed
 Message to caregivers and healthcare providers
Prompt Questions:
 “What does a ‘brave face’ look like in your daily life?”
 “How has sickle cell impacted your mental and emotional well-being?”
Panel Segment 1: The Hidden Trauma of Sickle Cell
Topics:
 Chronic pain as repeated trauma
 ER experiences, stigma, and emotional toll
 Living in “survival mode”

Info: Focus: Trauma-Informed Care; Emotional Wellness
Talking Points:
 Sickle cell as a form of repeated or complex trauma
 Common mental health challenges for patients and caregivers
 Signs of caregiver burnout and compassion fatigue
 Coping tools: grounding, boundaries, therapy, peer support
 How mental health care improves overall quality of life
Prompt Questions:
 “How does chronic illness intersect with trauma?”
 “What are practical first steps toward mental health support?”

Info: Focus: Caregiver Burnout; Emotional Labor
Talking Points:
 The invisible responsibilities of caregiving
 Emotional exhaustion, fear, guilt, and hyper-vigilance
 Navigating ER visits, advocacy, and system fatigue
 How caregiving affects mental health, work, and relationships
 The importance of caregiver support and boundaries
Prompt Questions:
 “What is the hardest part of caregiving that people don’t talk about?”
 “When did you realize you also needed support?”

Info: Focus: Systems, Compassionate Care; Partnership
Talking Points:
 Importance of holistic, patient-centered care
 Addressing stigma and bias in healthcare settings
 Integrating mental health into chronic illness treatment
 Value of community partnerships and patient voices
 Hospital commitment to education and support
Prompt Questions:
 “How can healthcare systems better support emotional wellness?”
 “What does compassionate care look like in practice?”

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Adrienne Kincaid