Special Episode with Brindley Brooks, MD Experts, & UCB
In this special Healing Space episode, Healing Space Host, Cara Nethery, is joined by HS Connect Founder & CEO Brindley Brooks and leading experts. for a powerful conversation on the silent struggles of living with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) — and why mental health support is just as critical as physical treatment.
Joined by Dr. Ginette Okoye, Professor and Chair of Dermatology at Howard University, along with Kajal Bhika from the UCB team, this episode explores the emotional toll of HS, including depression, anxiety, shame, isolation, and the impact on relationships, intimacy, and daily life.
Together, the panel discusses:
Why mental health is often overlooked in HS care
The hidden emotional burden of living with a chronic skin condition
How HS affects relationships, self-esteem, and identity
Barriers to accessing mental health support
The importance of community, validation, and patient-centered care
How Healing Space was created to fill critical gaps in emotional and mental health resources for people living with HS
This episode also highlights how Healing Space — supported by UCB — was built to provide accessible, judgment-free mental health tools, alternative therapies, and community-driven support so patients never have to navigate HS alone.
Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or healthcare provider, this conversation offers insight, validation, and hope — and reinforces that HS is more than a skin condition. It’s a whole-person experience that deserves whole-person care.
Learn more and access Healing Space resources at hsconnect.org.
This podcast was made possible by UCB.
