Lorenzo Lewis, founder of The Confess Project, discusses systemic representation gaps between behavioral health providers and Black youth.
Insight
Clinical psychiatric facilities carry a stigma that deters patients, says Lewis
“One of the things that always takes place inside of these hospitals and facilities is that there's a stigma to that because of the locations involved, people being seen, people not wanting to.”
Opinion
Therapist shortages make neighborhood barbers vital mental health advocates, says Lewis
“We need more advocates that can You know, have these tools, because there's not enough culturally competent therapists, and so having a neighborhood barbershop, a barber that everyone knows, that works with our homeless neighbors, to our principals, to our cit…”
Disclosure
The Confess Project is expanding its mental health services to all demographics
“And now as we get into this new model, we will serve more than just people of color. You know, it obviously, you know, a lot of these the different financial sources are geared towards supporting more people outside of Just Black people. So the Confess Project…”
Disclosure
The Confess Project relies on a four-point peer mental health curriculum
“So it is, you know, it's a four-tier model four-point model rather that's focused on active listening which is, you know, tied into being empathetic. Validation, you know, which is validating one's feelings, emotions positive communication, you know, teaching …”
Assertion Supported
The Confess Project trained 2,000 barbers across 28 states by 2022
“As of December 31st, twenty-twenty-two, we had trained 2000 barbers across 48 cities and 28 states.”
Disclosure
The Confess Project is opening its first billable clinic in Atlanta
“We're Really honing in in the city of Atlanta, where this will be our first clinic to provide these services through care coordination and patient navigation, but it will allow us to do billing particularly, and to be reimbursed for our time beyond the barbers…”