Mental Health Moments

At Teva, we’re passionate about mental health, and always want those struggling with their mental health journeys to feel seen and heard. As part of our ongoing dedication to supporting and elevating voices within the mental health community, our Mental Health Moment video series features Teva leaders, a caregiver, a patient, a physician and advocacy perspectives on conditions like schizophrenia and tardive dyskinesia (TD).

While there are 44 million adults living with mental health issues in the United States, the stigma around discussing mental health struggles openly and seeking necessary treatment persists. We understand these challenges which is why we continue to collaborate with patients, caregivers, advocacy groups, physicians, and the non-profit and private sectors to discuss the unmet needs of patients and work to ensure access to medicines and support are regularly available – utilizing our science and our relationships with those living with and treating mental health conditions.

View the transcript

Having watched a family member struggle with tardive dyskinesia, it was clear that having this visible condition can be frustrating, disheartening and embarrassing. Tardive dyskinesia, more commonly referred to as TD, is typically caused by a mental health medication. Watching my loved one’s experience with the condition, I know how important it is to speak up and advocate for yourself if you're struggling with TD. The condition causes involuntary body movements which impacted my loved one’s ability to perform daily tasks like talking normally or feeling comfortable going out in public due to their uncontrollable facial twitching. During the early days, because they couldn't see or feel the movements, they asked me and other family members

to film their facial twitching. The shock of seeing the movements only added to their growing insecurity and caused them to retreat into themselves, which has been painful to watch. For those who might be feeling the same way, please know that it may feel easier to isolate or avoid addressing your condition, but know that your family and friends are here to support you. Being open and honest with those around you about your TD symptoms, how you're feeling and how they can best support you can make all the difference. Mary’s story is just one of the many stories we hear when it comes to TD. On behalf of Teva, I'd like to thank Mary for sharing her story. If you or a loved one are struggling with TD, we encourage you to have open conversations about your experience and know that you're not alone.

A Loved One’s Perspective on Living with Tardive Dyskinesia

Watch now A Loved One’s Perspective on Living with Tardive Dyskinesia

View the video transcript

I'm Dr Jackson. In my experience, patients often don't recognize the true effect that tardive dyskinesia, otherwise known as TD, can have on their lives. I found that patients may think something like having trouble eating food or feeling embarrassed about others seeing their uncontrollable body movements may not seem important to bring up during a checkup with their health care provider. Through conversations I've had with fellow physicians, I know many have relied on a diagnostic scale that has been used for almost a half a century, a scale that only measures the physical manifestations of TD and doesn't fully consider the psychological and social impact this chronic condition can have. I, along with a group of doctors, decided that we needed to fix this gap in communication between doctors and patients, which led us to the creation of the IMPACT-TD scale. This new scale helps address this problem as a first of its kind holistic tool that looks at all aspects of the patient's life prompting doctors with the right questions to ask beyond just physical symptoms and giving the patient a chance to take part in their own diagnosis. I'm so incredibly proud to have been able to work on this project and I hope that this scale will have a positive impact for those living with TD. People living with TD deserve to have open conversations with their doctors where they feel seen and heard. And doctors deserve the have a tool that can help them facilitate these discussions. We at Teva are so proud to have been able to support the creation of the IMPACT-TD scale, and thank Dr Jackson and his colleagues for their innovative thinking and dedication to the TD community.

Helping Address the Impact of Tardive Dyskinesia

Watch now Helping Address the Impact of Tardive Dyskinesia

View the transcript

We all know that words matter in every aspect of life. And for those living with schizophrenia, sensitivities around language can change the way that people think, talk about it, and possibly change lives in the process. For many people, their knowledge of schizophrenia is limited. Learning about the conditions through depictions in media or online, which often show criminal or violent behavior. This can have a serious effect on the way that people speak about this condition and perpetuates stigma that can push those living withschizophrenia to the margins of society. I'm proud to be a part of an organization that's actively working to change the discussion around schizophrenia and help empower people to share their stories, demystify this illness, and advocate for themselves. No matter the situation, people living with schizophrenia deserve to be treated with compassion and understanding, and I think a way to address that that is to ensure that we speak about it accurately and in a non-stigmatizing way. We at Teva believe that compassion and understanding are key when it comes to helping address the stigma around schizophrenia and its advocates like Matthew who are truly leading the way with the work that the National Alliance on Mental Illness continues to do, we at Teva believe we can help change the way people speak and approach conditions like schizophrenia.

Stigma Around Schizophrenia: Why Words Matter

Watch now Stigma Around Schizophrenia: Why Words Matter

View the transcript

When I was diagnosed with schizophrenia, there were people who absolutely loved and cared about me, but I didn't have a lot of people who I felt like I could trust. As is often the experience of those living with schizophrenia before I started treatment, my behavior and unexplained symptoms led to a growing distance between myself, friends and family. But as I learned how to manage my condition and the challenges that come with it, I made an an effort to let those who care about me back into my life and support me on this journey. When you live with schizophrenia, you face daily battles that aren't always seen by those around you, including the caregivers who provide invaluable support. And due to the nature of this illness, caregiver teams for people living with schizophrenia can look different and be more challenging to build than other conditions. Building them takes time, understanding and care. This is why I've chosen to work in the counseling field and be that support for others. It's an honor to hear the stories of people whose journeys look like mine, and I'm proud that I'm able to be part of their support system. I know how difficult it can be to face a schizophrenia diagnosis and live with this illness, but I hope people know that reaching out for help is the most important step of taking care of yourself. Living with schizophrenia can be an incredibly difficult journey. It's so important to have a caregiver team that you can trust and be open with about how you're feeling and the support you need. At Teva we're inspired by stories like Lesley's. She has gone through her own journey to build her support network and is now helping others to do the same.

Building a Caregiver Team When Living with Schizophrenia

Watch now Building a Caregiver Team When Living with Schizophrenia