Purpose in Practice: World Mental Health Day 2025

Each year, World Mental Health Day calls attention to the need for greater understanding, access, and innovation in mental health care. For our team at CRC, this mission is part of who we are. 

We work every day to support sponsors developing new treatments for depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, and other conditions that affect millions of lives. For many of us, this work carries personal meaning. We see the people behind the protocols, and we carry stories that remind us what’s at stake. That shared purpose shapes how we show up for one another and for the sponsors who trust us to deliver. 

At CRC, managing a clinical trial is about more than execution. It’s about caring deeply enough to get it right. That commitment to meaning and precision drives our culture, unites our team, and defines the way we approach every study. 

Our Reflections

Today, several of our team members share what motivates them to keep pushing forward in the pursuit of better mental health treatments.



Zachary Bezold,  Associate Director, Statistical Programming

“Advancing mental health treatment isn’t just professional, it’s personal. I lost my lifelong best friend to schizophrenia, and I’ve seen firsthand the profound impact this illness has on patients and their families. That experience drives my commitment to improving care and outcomes. Every step forward in research and treatment is a step toward hope, healing, and honoring those we've lost.” 



Macy Rouse,  CTA I

“Growing up I always wanted to work in psychology, but I was always told the only way to help others was by becoming a therapist, which wasn't feasible due to my own mental health struggles. Working in research has changed my view on that: while some people help others by providing individualized support with their therapeutic skills, as researchers we use our skills to further the collective understanding of mental health problems and how to best treat them. Both of these roles play to different strengths; while therapists help people one-on-one, as researchers we help professionals in their ability to help people by providing knowledge, and the scope of our work extends far beyond what we see.” 

Todd Corl,  Sr. Director, Business Development

“My introduction to the world of mental health research was inspired by my father who was, and will forever be, my hero. Through his many successes and struggles during the course of his life, he battled against bipolar depression and the very real stigma that comes with mental illness. Despite this, he was the very best father that my sister and I could have ever hoped for. It is through him that I am committed to trying to make the world a better place for all who suffer with mental illness.”

 

Annie Speno,  VP, Business Development

“I believe that mental health is as vital as physical health. I’ve witnessed firsthand the profound impact mental health challenges can have on individuals and families and the barriers patients face in accessing appropriate care. I’m motivated by the opportunity to contribute to the development of effective treatment options and interventions through my work at CRC. Clinical research is a powerful tool in this journey. It allows us to challenge misconceptions, refine therapeutic approaches, and ultimately deliver tangible improvements in patient outcomes.”

 

Elizabeth Dean NRCMA, CCRC,  Associate Project Manager

“Few fields are as rewarding as mental health research. The opportunity to contribute to discoveries that genuinely change lives is both humbling and inspiring.” 

Driven to Advance Care

The reflections above capture what drives our work: empathy, resolve, and the belief that every study, every insight, and every partnership can make a difference. Our shared purpose connects us to this field and to everyone working to move it forward. 

On this World Mental Health Day, we honor that collective effort. Each person who chooses to work in mental health research brings their own story and their own reason to keep striving for better options and outcomes. To all those dedicated to improving mental health care – from researchers and clinicians to patients and advocates – we thank you for the work you do and the hope you create.