The Chicago Police Department (CPD) and the City Council are exploring alternative treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including Stella’s innovative treatment, the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB), or, as some officers refer to it, the “God shot.” 

Chicago’s police force is facing a mental health crisis, with six officers dying from suicide in 2022. Not only does their job take a toll on their mental health, but the loss of partners to suicide leads to debilitating secondary trauma.

Secondary trauma, also known as vicarious trauma or compassion fatigue, is the emotional and psychological strain that can result from exposure to the traumatic experiences of others, either through direct interactions or indirect interactions. 

Stella’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Eugene Lipov, who has been a leader in the battle against post-traumatic stress for the last two decades, aims to reset the system to its pre-trauma state for those in need, first responders, veterans, and civilians.

Several CPD officers, including Commander Melinda Linas, have received it to combat trauma’s effects. Linas stated that the treatment “made me a better person, it made me a better mother, it made me a better wife, it made me a better police officer.”

However, though the FDA approves the SGB for use as a pain management treatment and local anesthetics like bupivacaine and ropivacaine, the SGB is not yet FDA-approved for the treatment of PTSD and costs $1,500-$2,000 per shot. The phrase “not FDA-approved” can raise questions, but as Stella Chief Psychologist Dr. Shauna Springer explains it on Anxiety.org,

“SGB has been applied to symptoms of trauma in the same way that aspirin is used to reduce risk of heart attack. Aspirin is also “not FDA-approved” for use in this way – like SGB, it was also primarily developed to treat pain, but has shown clear promise.”

Aldermen advocated for the shot to be covered by officers’ health insurance, flex spending plans, or grants funded by the City Council. Despite the high cost and lack of formal approval, CPD officers who have received the treatment have reported significant improvements in their lives.

Biological interventions for mental health care, including the SGB and Ketamine Infusion Therapy, are currently not covered by insurance. Stella offers assessments and follow-up appointments that may be eligible for insurance reimbursement, although the actual amount reimbursed may vary based on insurance coverage and deductible.

To make treatment more affordable, Stella accepts payment through Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and major credit cards, as well as offering interest-free financing plans through CareCredit for up to six months to qualifying patients.

We are committed to providing the best care for individuals dealing with symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression.

Our team of trauma-informed Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners will conduct a thorough assessment of your symptoms and health history to create a personalized treatment plan. Our comprehensive care plans include innovative biological interventions like the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) and ketamine Infusion Therapy, as well as regular follow-ups over a six-month period to ensure that our patients achieve their desired outcomes. 

If you are interested in learning more about our services, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our Care Advocates at 412-455-8813 to schedule an initial assessment.

Whether we’re browsing the internet for solutions or have successfully found one, we often still have many questions surrounding the type of treatment we’re pursuing up until the day of and sometimes even after the treatment has taken place. Generally, we know who will perform the treatment, how long it takes, and what we’re supposed to feel after. However, we may rarely dive deep into the science behind it or understand how, or why, it works.

Stella offers multiple treatment modalities for mental health care, including the minimally invasive stellate ganglion block (SGB) that has already helped thousands of people experiencing symptoms of mental health challenges and emotional trauma worldwide. 

As Stella continues to grow around the world, it’s important for us to give you easy access to the information you need to find a solution. 

What is SGB?

First, it’s essential to know about the stellate ganglion nerve. The stellate ganglion is a conglomerate of sympathetic nerves located on both sides of the neck. After experiencing a traumatic event or as a result of ongoing stressors, the brain’s fight-or-flight response turns on and sometimes stays on long after.

When the fight or flight response is turned on extensively, it can lead to extra nerve growth in the brain. This, in turn, leads to an increase in norepinephrine.

Norepinephrine: also called noradrenaline, is a substance that is released predominantly from the ends of sympathetic nerve fibers that acts to increase the force of skeletal muscle contraction and the rate and force of contraction of the heart. The actions of norepinephrine are vital to the fight-or-flight response, whereby the body prepares to react to or retreat from an acute threat.¹

Norepinephrine has been demonstrated in patients with post traumatic stress, and leads to symptoms of post traumatic stress. Increases in norepinephrine leads to hypervigilance, anxiety, and other symptoms of post traumatic stress.

As you may notice, these biological responses are often associated with symptoms of post traumatic stress, depression and anxiety. We’ll discuss how SGB impacts the stellate ganglion nerve and norepinephrine next.

How Does SGB Work?

SGB is often used to relieve pain, and recently, new indications for SGB have become known. These include hot flashes during menopause and others, including the latest, the treatment of post traumatic stress.  

SGB is a guided anesthetic injection performed for the purpose of anesthetizing the stellate ganglia. Treatment begins with a double injection on the right side of the neck, and further treatment may include the left side. The impact of a local anesthetic on the stellate ganglia is as follows:

The anesthetic used in this treatment is ropivacaine or bupivacaine. Bupivacaine is a medication that has been approved by the FDA since 1972 for use as a local anesthetic and is leveraged within many common treatments, like epidurals during child birth.

The Mayo Clinic describes bupivacaine as a local anesthetic injection used to numb an area of the body during or after surgery or other procedures, childbirth, or dental work. They describe ropivaince as an injection that is used to cause numbness or loss of feeling before and during surgery or labor and delivery and used to relieve acute pain.

Advanced brain scans demonstrate that the amygdala is over activated in PTS. This reversal of this over-activation can be demonstrated using SGB by using advanced brain scanners. 

While more research still needs to be done, this may be why SGB can help relieve pain, is able to reduce symptoms of emotional trauma and mental health challenges, and reset your mind to its pre-trauma state. Essentially it reverses that culmination of events that led to the symptoms we’re experiencing.  

What is SGB for PTSD?

In the field of psychology, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is defined as a response to experiencing traumatic or stressful event(s) that creates feelings of horror or helplessness. Symptoms of PTSD can include irritation, anxiety, depression, flashbacks, loss of interest in things once enjoyed, etc. 

Since it was discovered that SGB can effectively and quickly reduce these symptoms of PTSD, the research into PTSD and the treatment modalities used to combat it have greatly expanded. Now, even brain imagery data suggests that changes from PTSD are visible, namely the nerve growth around the amygdala and that a simple injection of local anesthetic can reset the brain back to its pre-trauma state – showing some evidence that post-traumatic stress disorder is actually a treatable injury rather than a disorder.

SGB for PTSD isn’t always the first approach when looking for the right treatment. But since it started being used to treat PTSD, it boasts over an 80% success rate for individuals experiencing emotional trauma and mental health challenges. Those living with PTSD often say that the SGB treatment helped them feel calm again in their own bodies and helped their sleep, anxiety, and depression, among other symptoms.  

What is Stella’s approach?

Stella approaches PTSD as an injury, often referring to it as post-traumatic stress injury or PTSI. This helps destigmatize the term PTSD. Knowing PTSD is an injury and can be healed helps us find the solutions we need to heal, like SGB. 

Stella offers a modified SGB for PTSD called the Dual Sympathetic Reset (DSR). Using image-guided techniques, a highly trained Stella doctor injects a local anesthetic into two separate bundles of nerves found near the base of the neck.

While other SGB providers typically only do one injection into one nerve bundle, Stella performs a double block, which is why we call it a dual reset. When we add another ganglion – the superior cervical ganglia, the effects of treatment are significantly improved.  

Stella’s Dual Sympathetic Reset is two injections, either at C3 and C6 when using fluoroscopy or C4 and C6 when using ultrasound, which generally affects all the ganglia within the neck due to the close proximity. The entire process is completed in under 20 minutes. 

How To Learn More

Find you if you may be experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety or post traumatic stress by taking Stella’s symptoms quiz.

You can also read up on this breakthrough treatment on the How SGB Works page or explore what happens after SGB treatment on the SGB: What To Expect & What’s To Come blog or dive into Stella’s most recent Retrospective study results:

You can even hear first hand experiences and personal testimonials directly from Stella’s patients on our YouTube channel, including the story of own Chief Medical Officer and SGB pioneer, Dr. Eugene Lipov.

Is SGB Right For You?

Call our Care Advocates at 1-412-455-8813 to schedule your initial consultation with a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. You’ll work together to determine if SGB is the next right step in your healing journey.  

If you’ve experienced symptoms of emotional trauma and mental health challenges, you’ve most likely researched the different types of treatments available for relief, like talk therapy and medication – two of the most common types of treatment. So naturally, we gravitate toward these treatments as they are currently the most well-known and covered by most insurance companies. 

We may be skeptical at first when we encounter new types of innovative treatments. While a whole network of innovative and minimally invasive procedures can offer relief sometimes in an instant, they aren’t the first line of defense for treatment recommendations.

Innovative treatments like the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) have been around for decades, even centuries, but many are just finding out about it now. 

Stella’s Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB), known as the Dual Sympathetic Reset, has made waves in mental health care and has challenged the traditional care path model as a safe and efficient way to relieve symptoms like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. It can help relieve years, and even decades, of debilitating symptoms. As this life-saving treatment gains awareness, education is a crucial step in addressing the questions and concerns of those looking for the right care. 

This article covers the 15 most commonly asked questions about the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB):

Is SGB proven to work?

At Stella, we believe in the transparency of treatment outcomes. While no medical procedure is guaranteed to work for everyone, the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) by Stella has helped thousands of patients find lasting relief from their trauma-related symptoms. 

The PTSD Checklist (PCL) is a self-report survey used to measure PTSD symptoms. According to the National Center for PTSD Guidance, a 10-point decrease in PCL score is a clinically significant improvement. In a study of 327 Stella patients who received SGB between December 2016 and February 2020, on average, over 83% reported a 28.9-point decrease in their PCL score. These Stella patients experienced a result that’s almost three times better than that of other treatments. 

How long do the positive effects of SGB last?

Over 83% of Stella patients experience lasting relief from their trauma symptoms after one dual injection.

The duration of the Stellate Ganglion Block’s (SGB’s) positive effects varies from patient to patient, lasting months or years. 

While the longevity of SGB’s effectiveness is still being researched, in a 2014 study, 70% of participants were clinical successes at a follow-up administered between 3 and 6 months after treatment.

Will SGB erase my memory or impair my survival instinct?

The Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) does not erase your memory, but after treatment, you may find that your memory is clearer. 

SGB does not compromise your survival instinct because it does not “turn off” your fight-or-flight response. When your fight-or-flight response is stuck in an overactive state, your body is constantly experiencing a high level of stress which can be due to an imaginary threat. For example, it can feel like you’re being chased by an imaginary bear, for example. SGB does not take your ability to run away from the bear. Instead, it removes the imaginary bear. Should a real bear appear, you will still instinctually run away from it. 

How is SGB by Stella different from SGB from other providers?

Widely considered the pioneer of the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) for PTSD, Dr. Eugene Lipov, Stella’s Chief Medical Officer, is a Board Certified anesthesiologist and pain management physician. More than fifteen years ago, he initialed his SGB protocol that has the ability to “reset” the fight-or-flight response, returning it to its pre-trauma state.

SGB was originally developed as a single injection. 

After researching and testing many ways of administering SGB for PTSD treatment, Dr. Lipov found that two injections – known as the “Dual Sympathetic Reset” – yield the best results. The injections are given back to back. 

Each Stella doctor is Board Certified and is personally trained by Dr. Lipov in Stella’s proprietary SGB methodology. We also require that our doctors use image guidance for correct needle placement. 

	SGB by Stella  The “Dual Sympathetic Reset”	Traditional SGB
Provider	Board Certified medical doctor	Naturopathic practitioner, CRNA, Board Certified medical doctor
Trained by Dr. Eugene Lipov?	Yes	No
Side of Neck	Right. Left for right-sided non-responders.	Right
Injection Site(s)	C6 and C4 (or C3)	C6
Sedation	Local and Twilight Sedation (optional)	Varies
Accessibility	40+ Treatment Centers nationwide	Single clinic
Financing Plans	Provided to those who qualify	Typically unavailable

Has SGB been clinically studied?

Yes, there are numerous clinical studies about Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB).

This study explores the effectiveness of single and dual injection SGB. While both methods are effective, the study proposes that dual injection SGB – the same approach Stella uses – may be more effective than a single injection SGB in the treatment of PTSD. 

Mulvaney S. W., Curtis K. E., Ibrahim T. S. (2020) Comparison C6 Stellate Ganglion versus C6 and C4 Cervical Sympathetic Chain Blocks for Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Analysis of 147 Patients. J Neurol Disord Stroke 7(3): 1163.

This multisite, randomized clinical trial of SGB outcomes on PTSD symptoms, reports an improvement in the PTSD symptoms of active-duty service members after two SGB procedures. On average, the group treated with SGB experienced a 12.6-point decrease in their Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) score, and the control group experienced a 6.1-point decrease in their CAPS-5 score. 

Olmsted, K. L. R., Bartoszek, M., Mulvaney, S., McLean, B., Turabi, A., Young, R., … & Walters, B. B. (2020). Effect of stellate ganglion block treatment on posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA psychiatry, 77(2), 130-138.

This review of recent and historical SGB literature finds evidence of substantial beneficial psychiatric effects that supports the use of SGB as a PTSD treatment that may provide positive results and reduce barriers to therapy, particularly among military populations.

Summers, M. R., & Nevin, R. L. (2017). Stellate ganglion block in the treatment of post‐traumatic stress disorder: A review of historical and recent literature. Pain Practice, 17(4), 546-553.

Co-authored by Dr. Eugene Lipov, Stella’s Chief Medical Officer, this study reviews the clinical evidence and neurobiology of SGB for PTSD treatment. 

Lipov, E., & Kelzenberg, B. (2012). Sympathetic system modulation to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a review of clinical evidence and neurobiology. Journal of affective disorders, 142(1-3), 1-5.

How does SGB work with other types of treatments (like talk therapy)?

The Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) can work well in combination with other treatments. After SGB, many Stella patients feel a new sense of calm that can accelerate the positive impact of existing therapies (e.g., talk therapy, EMDR, CBT, DBT, etc.). For example, patients may find that they can recall their past and discuss it with their mental health provider without feeling as though they’re reliving it. 

If you already have a mental health provider, we suggest that you continue working with them after SGB to further your healing. If you do not have a mental health care provider, Stella may be able to refer you to one.

What’s included with Treatment by Stella?

Treatment by Stella is a commitment to your recovery, from first contact to the moment you feel like yourself again. The Stella Standard of Care was created to meet your needs before, during, and after treatment. This is the new model of trauma treatment. 

Getting To Know You:

The first step is to speak with a licensed Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). The PMHNP will conduct a bio-psycho-social assessment, including a review of your symptoms and health history. The PMHNP will create a custom treatment recommendation for you using this information.

Our PMHPs use validated measures to gauge your symptoms. These measures include the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5) for symptoms of PTSD/ emotional trauma, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) for anxiety, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression, and the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) for traumatic brain injury.

Curated Care:

Throughout the journey, you will work with a dedicated Patient Care Coordinator who will coordinate your care and help answer any questions along the way.

If receiving the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB), the entire procedure takes less than 20 minutes, but please plan on being at the facility for one to two hours. The positive effects of SGB are often immediate.

If receiving ketamine, each treatment typically takes 45 minutes. Please plan on being at the facility for one to two hours. Most have relief from symptoms within hours of treatment.

Those on Care Plans will work with Stella’s PMHNPs over six months and receive an individualized treatment plan that combines biological and psychological interventions to provide the best outcomes possible.

Ongoing Support:

Following treatment, your PMHNP will call to review the procedure’s effectiveness and ask about any symptoms you may be experiencing. Each patient will also have a 30-minute follow-up to continue that review and discuss how to maximize the positive effects of treatment. PMHNPs are there to physically, mentally, and emotionally support a patient, as uniquely required, during this session.

Those on Care Plans will have additional follow-up sessions with Stella’s PMHNPs which include completing standard mental health assessments, determining whether additional treatment is warranted, and discussing trauma-informed, healing-related topics such as getting better sleep, approaching grief, or mindfulness techniques.

Stella is here for you

Fast and effective care for symptoms of emotional trauma and mental health challenges is at our front door, and we have already helped thousands of people in need. The more questions asked and the more information given can help lead innovative treatments like SGB and mental health companies like Stella into the lives of people in need. We’re dedicated to you and innovative treatments because the possibilities are endless. 

If you are interested in learning more, please contact our Care Advocate team directly by calling 1-412-455-8813.

After the 20-minute Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) treatment, Adam’s life changed.

Adam, whose real name was changed for privacy reasons, suffered from mental health challenges for years created by consistent, repeated traumas throughout his life.

Finding the right treatment was a long journey, but SGB’s impact was quick.

“I no longer have continual pressure in my head, defensive in difficult conversations and arguments, impatient with people or situations, or have negative thoughts. It’s like a huge dark cloud was lifted from me.”

Treatments like SGB, talk therapy, electroconvulsive therapy, and prescription medications can lead to excellent results for people battling mental health challenges. Even though these treatments can bring rapid relief from trauma symptoms, they don’t mark the end of the road to recovery.

For many people, there’s still work to do after a major breakthrough. Continued mental health care after treatment allows us to live the most fulfilling life possible.

Life after treatment

Recovery mode refers to the changes someone notes in their mind and body after treatment. Recovery mode can include a surge of emotions, new thoughts and fresh perspectives, and physical differences.

Recovery mode is our mind and body’s way of laying out the best steps forward for a beneficial recovery.

Let’s explore how recovery mode presents itself, the immediate actions to take, and how to promote healing for years to come.

What to expect during a healing journey

Emotional releases

It’s common for people living with debilitating symptoms to suppress their emotions without realizing it. After they experience a successful treatment outcome, they’re likely to experience a flood of unfamiliar emotions.

These thoughts and feelings can be confusing and overwhelming. However, this is a normal reaction to many different treatments.

Emotional Acuity: The ability to recognize and correctly identify one’s own emotions, critical to navigating new thoughts and feelings.

To get in touch with these emotions and really explore them, we suggest asking the following questions:

• Is it something I’ve felt before?
• What words can I use to articulate this?
• Am I experiencing a single emotion or a combination of emotions?

Assessing and understanding emotions is the first step to navigating them.

Gaining new perspectives

Many people have a new perception of themselves during a healing journey or after successful treatment. This perception can impact daily life, employment, and/or relationships.

It can take time to fully allow your emotions to shift into what feels like healthy ‘new normals.’

Make sure to validate the truth behind what is being experienced, like when you experience happiness or sadness, it’s not wrong to feel that way. Don’t try to change or recreate the truth. Instead, remember that perceptions, feelings, and emotions come and go.

Physical changes

Mental health challenges can take a toll on the body. Unfortunately, we can get so used to feeling one way for years or decades before treatment that we often forget to check in on our physical well-being, like when the stress we hold in our muscles tenses up and leads to pain and soreness.

Whether or not our body is having a good or bad day, take the time to check in and do a full body scan. Ask questions about our posture, take deep breaths, and think about the best way to get our mind and body through the day.

Though these life adjustments may seem minor, checking in on ourselves is a habit worth forming. Helping our bodies and minds adjust to the relief from symptoms can normalize these new experiences and create new baselines for our mental and physical health.

Take steps toward continued care

Regardless of what one’s healing journey looks like, it’s important to remember that no one has to go it alone.

Regardless of whether someone has a support system of friends, family, and/or colleagues, mental health care providers are always willing to help. Here are five key steps:

Talk to a mental health care provider

A typical step in a healing journey is working with mental health professionals like psychologists, counselors, clinicians, therapists, clinical social workers, psychiatrists, or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners.

Once the right fit is found, these professionals can help us better understand the thoughts, feelings, and actions we may experience while feeling the impact of symptoms. They also teach how to adjust thought processes, give the right resources, and recognize the best paths on a healing journey.

Awareness around stressors

Stress can exacerbate mental health challenges. For example, it can heighten symptoms like anxiety and depression and hinder one’s ability to get a good night’s sleep. It can also lead to physical pain, like headaches and muscle tightness.

According to The National Alliance on Mental Illness, “When experiencing long-term stress, your brain is exposed to increased hormone levels called cortisol. This exposure weakens your immune system, making it easier for you to get sick.”

Mindfulness habits and physical health

Exercise and eating well are good ways to reduce stress throughout the day. In return, these can promote better sleep and balance in the mind. Ask a doctor or nutritionist for healthy food suggestions.

Meditation has great benefits for ongoing care, especially during an emotional release. Meditation helps us gain new perspectives on our past experiences. It promotes a focus on the present and allows us to approach the day with a calm and collected mindset.

Assess old, new, and future habits and relationships

In creating a new normal, we may realize that certain situations, behaviors, and relationships are no longer healthy for us. In some cases, it is important to consider whether continuing to engage in them is helpful to our growth.

It can be hard to break away from activities or relationships that may have been part of our lives for a long time. But it can be a necessary step.

Try out old hobbies and explore new ones

Explore new hobbies or activities once enjoyed. For years, our minds may have tricked us and said that the activities we enjoyed weren’t as positive as we thought.

The truth is that joy and positive experiences are just as powerful and valuable as any other feeling. When we experience an emotional release of joy, follow the instinct, especially if it comes at a time of sadness. Like many emotions, sadness and joy can happen at the same time.

Revisiting old hobbies opens channels for escape, an exploration into our feelings, distraction, and a wellness reset. Hobbies can be somewhat therapeutic and can change our perception of ourselves, our loved ones, and those we interact with daily. Old or new, exploring passions and hobbies can help our recovery process.

Start your healing journey

Stella is here for you. We offer industry-leading biological interventions for symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression.

Our care plans begin with an assessment by a trauma-informed Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who will review an individual’s symptoms and health history to create a custom recommendation. Our wrap-around care plans include cutting-edge biological interventions – like SGB and/or Ketamine Infusion Therapy – plus regular follow-ups over a six-month period to ensure that our patients achieve their desired outcomes.

Call a Care Advocate at (908) 928-4086 to schedule an initial assessment.

Over the pasts few decades, awareness of suicide prevention in the United States has expanded. Independent volunteer prevention programs like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, various counseling programs, and government programs on the local, state, and federal levels like the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline have all taken shape to help those in need. While these programs have saved countless lives, it is hard to know someone that hasn’t been affected by suicide whether it be family, friends or coworkers. A recent Stella employee survey revealed that just over 51 percent of it’s employees have lost a loved one to suicide. 

Though awareness surrounding suicide has become more prevalent, it is still a leading cause of death in the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States with 45,979 deaths in 2020.” Suicide rates saw an increase of 30 percent between the years 2000–2018. The rate decreased in the years 2019–2020 but still remains on the list of highest mortality rates in the country. 

Who is affected the most by suicide and suicide attempts?

While all different types of people are affected by suicide and suicide attempts, some groups are more at risk than others. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, the groups most affected by suicide are: 

Middle-Aged People and Older Men

Upwards of 80 percent of all suicides in the U.S. are among middle-aged men and women, 45-54. Men 85 and older have the highest suicide rate in the country due to possible isolation, a history of violence, and more. 

American Indians

Young American Indian men face a greater risk of suicide and suicidal ideations due to isolation, historical trauma, poverty caused by systemic issues, cultural stress, and more. American Indian men in the Northern Plains seem to face the greatest risk. 

Alaskan Natives

Alaska currently holds one of the highest suicide rates in all fifty states. Young Alaskan men are especially at risk due to substance abuse and isolation. 

Two other very important groups affected by higher percentages of suicide listed by SAMHSA are veterans and members of the LGBTQ+ communities. 

Veterans

According to the 2021 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, over 6,000 veterans took their own lives in 2019. That’s around 14 percent of the 45,000 plus people that committed suicide that year. “Veterans ages 55-74 were the largest population subgroup,” the VA reported. “They accounted for 38.6% of Veteran suicide deaths in 2019.” Many veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress injury that can further lead to debilitating mental health conditions. 

LGBTQ+

The LGBTQ plus community faces an insurmountable challenge with homophobia, hatred, and acceptance from outside parties. This can lead to suicidal ideations and suicide attempts for those receiving the hatred. The CDC says, “Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are at even greater risk for suicide attempts, especially before the age of 25.” LGBTQ plus youth have an even higher risk of suicidal ideations and attempts due to their unsafe environments. 

Suicide and trauma

Symptoms of trauma and post-traumatic stress injury can often run hand in hand with suicidal ideations or attempts. There is evidence that trauma, particularly brought on by sexual abuse in childhood and veterans that have seen combat, does “increase the risk of suicidal thoughts,” according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affair. “In this research, combat trauma survivors who were wounded more than once or put in the hospital for a wound had the highest suicide risk.” Veterans can carry the weight of combat long after they’ve returned home from war. The guilt often leads to suicidal ideations. More studies continue to explain that those with PTSI, or PTSD, have higher suicide ideations or attempts – Partly, due to the lack of preventions or ability to express emotions in a safe environment. 

Treatment of suicidal ideations and attempts

Around five people die by suicide in one hour in the United States, that’s one person every 11 minutes, and the number of those that thought about suicide is even higher, 12.1 million people seriously considered taking their life, and just over three million planned an attempt, and 1.2 million attempted taking their life. The emotional and physical impact of suicide or suicide attempt is astronomical on their loved ones. It can lead to post-traumatic stress injury, depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Suicide and suicide attempts can also make a large impact financially. “In 2019, suicide and nonfatal self-harm cost the nation nearly $490 billion in medical costs, work loss costs, the value of statistical life, and quality of life costs,” the CDC reported last year.  

There are various modalities used to combat suicidal ideations. And though, there is no one size fits all approach to solving suicidal ideations, some of the most popular avenues are cognative behavioral therapies that reduce the ideations through patients actively working on coping mechanisms, Antidepressants, antipsychotic medications, anti-anxiety medications that can help reduce symptoms, and support from loved ones. 

New innovations

Over the last couple of decades, new treatments like the stellate ganglion block (SGB) and ketamine have given hope to many with suicidal ideations. SGB is an injection of local anesthetic into the stellate ganglion that helps restore normal biological function. Some evidence has shown that it can efficiently reduce symptoms of trauma, like hypervigilance, trouble sleeping, and anxiety, that can lead to suicidal ideations. 

One person that received SGB treatment by Stella said, “None of the memories have disappeared but I no longer feel them or relive them every second of every day. I was at a point where I couldn’t stop feeling suicidal, it was absolute torture to even imagine having to live another day stuck in my own head. I no longer feel suicidal.”

According to a study byThe BMJ, ketamine has a rapid relief effect on those suffering from depression and severe suicidal ideations. More patients involved in the study reached a full remission of suicidal thoughts within three days time compared to those with a placebo. Like SGB, ketamine is not a cure, but a big step forward on the path to recovery. 

How is Stella handling suicide prevention?

Stella’s number one priority is to help those in need suffering from certain mental heatlh conditions – Conditions that can often lead to symptoms like suicidal ideations or even attempts. The tireless advocates, care coordinators, and medical professionals work daily to ensure opportunities for healing like the stellate ganglion block and ketamine treatments are available to those in need. 

Like a lot of mental health companies, Stella has actively opened up a conversation about mental health, combating the stigmas surrounding those suffering. The more open people are, the more resources become available to those that may not know where to search. The Stella blog has opened up a dialogue about the signs and symptoms of trauma, depression, anxiety, and more. The Story of Our Trauma podcast offers insight from those experiencing similar situations, like Ron Self, a veteran affected by a suicide attempt. And our testimonial page has shared personal stories of successful solutions to those combating symptoms. 

What else is being done to prevent suicide and suicide attempts?

More than 90 percent of people who survive an attempted suicide never go on to die by suicide, according to the CDC. But 90 percent is still far too many people. Recent large-scale programs from the federal government have been initiated, like the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, to help with suicidal ideations that can lead to suicide attempts. 

The 988 Lifeline

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 suicide prevention counselors from over 160 centers in the United States. The Biden Administration increased federal funding from $24 million to $432 million to include resources for select groups of people like the ones mentioned in the previous section. It is available and open to anyone that is in emotional distress or facing suicidal ideations. 

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is a volunteer organization that has been around since 1987 and has remained a valuable resource for those looking for help with suicidal ideations. The organization actively funds research and education surrounding suicide, advocates for policies at a federal level, and supports those that have been impacted by the suicide of a loved one. 

Suicide remains a leading cause of death in this country, but with awareness and active dialogue, we can lower the number of those with ideations, plans and those that take their own life. The resources are available, and if you or a loved one is suffering from suicidal ideations, please connect with the 988 Lifeline.

Our Beginning

Stella’s mission from day one is to alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with innovative solutions like the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB). We’ve helped and will continue to help, thousands of people find lasting relief from trauma symptoms of all kinds. As conversations around trauma continue to grow, so must SGB awareness.

A Big Jump Forward

Stella is excited to hear that a research study from NYU Langone Health will clinically test the efficacy of SGB on PTSD. This study aims to illustrate that SGB can efficiently reduce PTSD symptoms.

A Future of Healing

Studies like these help raise the much-needed awareness surrounding PTSD and usher in effective and innovative pathways to care. If you want to learn more or are interested in participating, please click below. 

PTSDASTOP.ORG

Each July, National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month brings awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic minority groups face regarding mental illness in the US. Unfortunately, members of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities and other minority groups often face disproportionate inequities in care, support, or mental health services in this country.

As a result, they are significantly more likely to develop mental health conditions. One of the significant barriers to mental health treatment is access and the need for understanding mental health support.

Traumas can impact communities as a collective and the individuals themselves and a major barrier to treatment around mental health is the lack of access and understanding of mental health support. 

This BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, we sat down with three mental health care advocates to discuss the struggles of their communities, the stigmas they still face and the changes they hope to see.

Ryan Mundy, the founder and CEO of Alkeme Health, founded the company after noticing that there weren’t any health platforms that focused on the trajectory of Black health.

“They were never given permission to talk about it so it’s kind of like a self-fulfilling prophecy. It becomes a stigma because nobody has the language or the education or the space to talk about it.”

Alkeme is a streaming platform that provides therapists, wellbeing courses, guided meditations, and livestream sessions centered around the Black experience. 

“We’re Black today, Black tomorrow. Black forever. And underneath that, there’s a lot of different ways in which people show up as Black. I’m not here to segment or to say you are too Black or not Black enough. If you identify as Black, our aim is to have a space for you within the platform.”

Artist Leo “Lowhi”, mental health advocate from Asian Mental Health Project, discussed how he felt shame and guilt around feeling emotions from an early age. 

“The fear of reaching out and having someone judge me for that, in my mind state at the time, that’s worse than whatever pain that I’m going through.”

Leo educates, empowers and advocates for mental health with the Asian Mental Health Project which provides resources to make mental healthcare more accessible. Join a community wellness group or sign up for Asian Men’s Wellness Check-in today.

And Kathleen, who associates herself with both the Latinx and Middle Eastern Community, discusses how admitting that you need help and that you are not okay is actually the strongest decision you could ever make for yourself. 

“It can be an uphill battle if you’re surrounded by people who don’t believe in mental health and they believe that whatever you’re going through is just made up, that it’s ‘all in your head.’ “ 

At Stella, we continue to innovate like our lives depend on it. With any company focused on innovation, you must be agile and willing to take some risks. As executive leaders at Stella, Chief Growth Officer Matt Erley and Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer Michael Gershenzon face difficult, yet inspiring, challenges every day. 

Recently, they sat down and shed light on the business side.

When asked what keeps Gershenzon motivated, he credited the weekly stories of how Stella has helped change a person and family’s life.

On the other hand, Erley credits culture for his drive.

“I’m motivated every day to change the stigma that emotional trauma is a disorder that can’t be treated.“

He notes that his biggest accomplishment as a business owner is building best-in-class teams and is only able to be successful because of the people around him.

Gershenzon had some advice for those starting, running and growing a business in today’s climate.

“In the beginning, you’ll have more bad days than good ones. Just remember that’ll change. You can do anything, but you can’t do everything. Let your team members own things – they’ll be better than you.”

Read the full interviews below: 

Your Symptoms Are a Big Deal with Matthew Erley 

Who is Stella?

Stella is building the leading platform to connect emotional trauma sufferers with the most innovative and high-outcome treatments. We are here to break the stigmas around emotional trauma and post-traumatic stress and help people find healing.

Tell us about yourself.

I’m a direct-to-consumer growth guy. I love bringing new products and services to market. I saw an opportunity to bring a more sophisticated approach to growth/marketing in the healthcare space and wanted to use my skill set to help people suffering from emotional trauma. I’m motivated every day to change the stigma that emotional trauma is a disorder that can’t be treated. Through a number of modern treatments, we can now treat the physical injury caused by emotional trauma and PTS. Sufferers can find relief.

What’s your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Building a best-in-class team that supports one another and our patients every day. I’m only able to be successful because of the people around me.

What’s one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Facing challenges head-on is uncomfortable. You can’t hide or sit back and be passive as an executive. If there’s an uncomfortable situation, whether that be with an employee, a customer, or an external partner, I’ve learned to address it immediately. Especially in the age of remote work, picking up the phone to resolve an issue is so important.

What are the top tips you’d give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1. Keep moving and taking a step forward every day. Progress is everything. Optimize for it.
2. Surround yourself with kind and supportive people (you will need them along the way).
3. Remember your purpose and why you are building this business. It’s easy to let frustration and doubt creep in. Stay centered.

(Bonus) – Get some sleep. You will need to have lots of energy!

Breakthrough Treatments for Emotional Trauma with Michael Gershenzon

Who is Stella?

Stella provides innovative treatments for those suffering from debilitating mental trauma symptoms. Our clients are often those that have been unable to find relief with traditional modalities, such as pharmaceuticals, and have been searching for relief for years or even decades

Tell us about yourself.

I was working as an investment professional at a private equity firm when I was introduced to a doctor (Stella’s now co-founder) innovating in mental health. Shortly thereafter, the mutual friend that introduced us died by suicide, shocking us all. A month later, with the backing of the private equity firm for which I was working, we started Stella to help those suffering in silence find relief.

What’s your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

The weekly stories of how Stella has helped change a person and family’s life.

What’s one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Transitioning from being the only employee doing everything to building a quickly growing, incredibly talented team and stepping into a managerial role has been (and will continue to be!) an interesting challenge.

What are the top tips you’d give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1. In the beginning, you’ll have more bad days than good ones – just remember that’ll change.
2. Articulate your mission on day one and care about it a lot.
3. You can do anything, but you can’t do everything – let your team members own things – they’ll be better than you.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Make sure you’re long-term business model is sound – otherwise, you risk building a bridge to nowhere. That’s not to say you need to be profitable immediately – but you absolutely need to articulate how the company will be profitable long term.