“Depression is a tough subject to talk about,” said musician Rick Springfield, who has talked openly about living with depression, including in his documentary,

“Depression is treatable, but less than 25 percent of those with depression receive treatment due to stigma. We plant hope for those people using sunflowers as a universal symbol that treatment is possible,” said Goetzke. “By mobilizing an online global community of advocates through ‘Pledge to Plant’ we plan to bring much needed awareness to the impact depression has on families, communities and countries around the world.”