Resources and Advocacy
Biohaven is committed to serving people who suffer from OCD, and the OCD community at large. That’s why we are not only working with OCD doctors and researchers to develop a potential new treatment medication, but also to support OCD advocacy and a wide variety of easily accessible resources. We hope you find value in the information below.
Advocacy Partners
IOCDF
The mission of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) is to help those impacted by obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders to live full and productive lives. We aim to increase access to effective treatment through research and training, foster a hopeful and supportive community for those affected by OCD and the professionals who treat them, and fight stigma surrounding mental health issues. The IOCDF is proud to partner with Biohaven through our community and awareness raising events, such as the One Million Steps for OCD Walk and Annual OCD Conference, in our shared goal to improve outcomes for individuals with OCD and related disorders.
NOCD
NOCD is on a mission to create a world where anyone can access effective OCD treatment, no matter where they live or how much money they make. Through the NOCD platform, members can do live video sessions with a licensed therapist specialized in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold standard treatment, and receive support between sessions through in-app messaging, self-help tools, and peer communities. As OCD is one of the most severe, prevalent, and misunderstood mental health conditions, our team at NOCD is passionate about delivering effective treatment for a chronic yet manageable condition like OCD, and we are excited to help bring a new treatment option to the OCD community through our partnership with Biohaven.
Riley’s Wish Foundation
Riley’s Wish Foundation seeks to encourage purposeful actions to serve those battling obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Our goal is to foster unity among persons suffering from OCD, and to educate the public about the disorder while affecting change in OCD awareness and treatment. One particular focus of the Foundation is to help people with co-occurring disorders of OCD and substance use disorder.Riley’s Wish Foundation was started in honor of Riley Sisson, who lost his battle with OCD and addiction from an accidental overdose on Sept 1,2014. Those who knew Riley understood – he was exceptional. Riley was funny, smart, big and loveable. His empathy for others, particularly those with struggles and hurt, taught us all a lesson in selflessness. Riley graduated from Kennesaw State University and had just started his Masters Program in Counseling. Riley’s Wish Foundation likewise seeks to raise awareness, educate, provide support and share stories that will help others. We encourage you to go out and do something that makes a difference. Riley would be pleased . . .
“I believe it is paramount to be of service to others, and I would like to devote my career to helping others in need.” — Riley Sisson
Orchard
Orchard OCD is a UK-based charity that accelerates research into new and better treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a devastating yet widely misunderstood mental illness. We work with academics, clinicians, patients, industry and other charities to build an ecosystem that promotes research into OCD.
Biohaven’s clinical trial into a potential new treatment for OCD is hugely important. OCD is a severely under-researched mental illness with far from satisfactory existing treatments. Yet it is very common and can destroy the lives of patients. Successfully developing a novel treatment based on newly understood brain mechanisms of OCD could make a big difference to the millions of OCD sufferers around the world – hence why we support this clinical trial.
OCD Doodles
Hello, I’m Laura Johnson, mum of two, trained research scientist and the creator of OCD doodles. I was diagnosed with OCD at the age of 29, after two decades of unknowingly engaging with intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours which, at their peak rendered me housebound and unable to work. Post-diagnosis, it took a further 5 years to access the recommended therapy. OCD is a frequently misunderstood disorder and the stigma associated with it contributed to my delayed diagnosis.
Through OCD doodles I hope to create accessible and easy-to-digest info doodles, that help to raise awareness of OCD and in turn change the narrative of these all too familiar stories. Using my scientific background, together with my first-hand experience of the disorder, it is my pleasure to partner with Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, to communicate and share their research and efforts to develop a new treatment for OCD.
OCD doodles hopes…
- to create relatable content that lets those with OCD know they are not alone and that they are a part of a creative and empathetic community.
- to direct those that require treatment toward trusted resources and therapists that specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy.
- to provide engaging resources that inspire and motivate those with OCD to get the most out of their treatment.
- to get accurate information into the hands of those that are not yet diagnosed.
- for a world where OCD is recognized, in general conversation, as a debilitating disorder.
- to help those with OCD articulate what they are going through to their friends, families, and healthcare providers.
Taming Olivia
After living with distressing intrusive thoughts since early childhood, Catherine Benfield finally got diagnosed with OCD at age 32. She found that the best way to traverse recovery and develop self-compassion was through the use of a character she created named Olivia. Catherine set up the blog Taming Olivia, about the cheeky, somewhat sassy character that helped her separate herself from her condition. Taming Olivia has grown beyond Catherine’s wildest dreams and is now used as a concept around the world, in the international press, in classrooms, therapists’ offices, and in discussions around dinner tables.
As well as information about Olivia, Catherine’s site also includes:
- A blog covering everything you could ever need to know about OCD and OCD recovery.
- Detailed information about how to get support for OCD and links to support materials and charities.
- Information about the upcoming film about OCD and intrusive thoughts, Waving.
