How can the use of brain imaging help reduce stigma around mental illness? Amongst other root causes, the brain is central to how we think about cognition, behavior and mental illness. Understanding that the brain, an important bodily organ, is involved in mental illness is critical. The good news is that the brain is very plastic and flexible so we can work on improving our brain function just like we do with other parts of our body. Stress and adversity can negatively affect the brain, but we can also train the brain to develop positive, resilience-based coping strategies to deal with and prepare for stress and adversity.