Gabrielle Union Joins Nema Health as Investor & Strategic Advisor

At Nema, our mission has always been deeply personal. My cofounders and I started the company to bring people the kind of support I needed after I experienced trauma – and so far, we’ve walked hand-in-hand with thousands of people across the country, helping them heal from their PTSD and find the peace they deserve. 

Today, we’re deeply honored to share a new step toward achieving our mission: actress, producer, and best-selling author Gabrielle Union has joined Nema as both an investor and advisor. Her voice — powerful, raw, and always real — brings tremendous strength to our mission of helping survivors heal.

Gabrielle (or “Gab,” as our team has quickly come to know her) has spent decades speaking publicly and powerfully about the trauma she endured following her sexual assault at age 19. In the years since, she has become an extraordinary advocate for survivors, using her platform to shine light on the pain and realities of PTSD — and to call out the unacceptable prevalence of sexual violence among women and queer people.

Most of the Nema community knows how deep the roots of trauma run in our country: an estimated 80% of Americans will endure a trauma and 30 million will go on to develop PTSD. Marked by debilitating symptoms like hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts & flashbacks, social avoidance, negative mood, and heightened anxiety, survivors often struggle to believe that recovery from PTSD is possible at all. 

Gab’s decision to invest and advise affirms something we deeply believe at Nema: healing after trauma is not just possible – it’s something we’re wholeheartedly committed to and have ample hope for for each and every one of our patients. 

“I’ve worried over the years that I’ll never get better,” Gab shared. “I’ve lived with this shadow for so many years, and sometimes, when I think I’m out of the woods, it comes sneaking up on me again. I now know that’s because I never found the right treatment that endures in the long-term. Now that I’m undergoing treatment with Nema, I’m seeing many of the beliefs about my trauma that have gripped me start to fade away. I know it’s not my fault anymore, but it is my responsibility to take back my life. I owe that to myself.”

At Nema, our patients access treatment from research-backed therapies like Cognitive Processing Therapy; support from clinicians and survivors including therapists, psychiatrists, and peer mentors working in concert to guide healing; and the knowledge that 95% of our patients report noticeable improvement in their PTSD symptoms after our program. 

Gab’s joining marks a pivotal moment for Nema. As we continue expanding into new states and health plans, Gab’s relationship with Nema means the stories, struggles, and courage of trauma survivors are seen and validated every day. We are so honored to have such a vulnerable and brave advisor on board to help us deliver on our mission. 

“To those living with the kind of trauma that feels like it could sink you – I see you,” Gab added. “I know what it feels like. You are strong, you are capable, you can find peace. There is so much love for you in the world, and you deserve every last ounce of it.”

As the first order of business for our partnership, Nema and Gab teamed up to create our Trauma Survivor Guide, a free resource for anyone struggling in the aftermath of trauma. In it, you’ll find help understanding PTSD, how symptoms show up, resources for finding treatment, and exercises to help you heal. You can visit the Guide here.