Mental Health Practice Expands Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Options for Howard County Residents in Time for Suicide Prevention Month
Columbia, Md. — September 1, 2026 — As communities across the country recognize Suicide Prevention Month this September, The Mood Center’s Columbia, Maryland location is expanding access to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy, an FDA-approved, non-invasive option for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and the suicidal ideation that often accompanies the condition. The Mood Center has added a full-time TMS practitioner, increasing access to the advanced mental health treatment for people throughout Howard County and the surrounding region while expanding TMS beyond its established Annapolis location.
The expansion comes as suicide remains a significant public health concern nationally and across Maryland. In 2024, 48,824 Americans died by suicide, making it the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And though the national suicide rate declined 3% from 2023 to 2024, Maryland saw a 4% increase during that period, one of more than a dozen states that saw a rise. Across Howard County, local health survey data have shown residents reporting feelings of depression or hopelessness more often.
“One life lost to suicide is one too many, and sadly, Maryland is one of a few states where the problem is actually getting worse,” said Brad Masters, COO/CMO of The Mood Center. “Suicide Prevention Month is about awareness, but it also has to be about access to care and emerging methods of treatment. Expanding our TMS program in Columbia gives more people another option when traditional approaches haven’t provided the relief they need.”
TMS is a drug-free treatment that uses a non-invasive, computerized, electromechanical medical device to stimulate areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. The TMS system used by The Mood Center is FDA-cleared for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adult patients who have not achieved satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication. Treatment does not require anesthesia or sedation, and patients can typically resume normal activities immediately afterward.
TMS provides another option for people with treatment-resistant depression who have not experienced adequate improvement with traditional antidepressant medications and for anyone with accompanying suicidal ideation. TMS is covered by most major health insurance plans as well as Tricare, Medicare, and Medicaid.
“Our goal is to reduce the barriers that keep people from finding a treatment that works for them,” Masters said. “Adding TMS alongside the ketamine and IV therapies already offered in Columbia [and Annapolis] gives patients another option closer to home.”
A typical course of TMS for depression involves a 20- to-40 minute session, done five days a week for several weeks, making consistent local access vital for patients.
TMS is an increasingly important treatment option for veterans living with TRD, including those experiencing depression alongside post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes TMS as a treatment option for veterans with major depressive disorder when other treatments have not been effective.
The expansion also comes as fall approaches, when seasonal changes can affect some people living with depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), winter-pattern seasonal affective disorder (SAD) typically begins in late fall or early winter as daylight hours decrease.
Explore TMS Treatment at the Mood Center
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Columbia, MD
11055 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 209, Columbia, MD 21044
Annapolis, MD
927 West Street , Annapolis, MD 21401
About The Mood Center
The Mood Center is a Maryland-based mental health treatment practice specializing in advanced therapies for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and other mood disorders. With locations in Annapolis and Columbia, Maryland, The Mood Center offers transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), IV ketamine therapy, SPRAVATO® and related therapies for individuals seeking options beyond traditional treatments. Learn more: TheMoodCenter.com
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Mental Health Crisis Support
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988. Veterans can call 988 and press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.