Prompt Cast
Lorenzo Lewis and the Confess Project: Revolutionizing Mental Health Support in Barbershops
TLDR Lorenzo Lewis founded the Confess Project to train barbers in black neighborhoods to become therapists, addressing mental health challenges faced by black men and boys. By introducing mental health discussions in barbershops, the Confess Project aims to provide crucial advocacy and support, expanding its services to people of all backgrounds.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Lorenzo Lewis founded the Confess Project to train barbers in predominantly black neighborhoods to become front-line therapists, addressing the mental health crisis faced by black men and boys.
04:26
Growing up with his aunt and uncle due to his parents' absence led Lorenzo Lewis to struggle with depression and identity issues, eventually resulting in a troubled adolescence and a brief period of incarceration as a teenager.
08:47
After narrowly avoiding a felony conviction and being put on probation, Lorenzo Lewis was inspired to turn his life around, leading him to work with troubled youth facing mental health challenges and trauma due to their life experiences.
13:15
Lorenzo Lewis recognized the lack of mental health services for black men and boys, leading him to start a social enterprise focused on providing therapy in barbershops.
17:59
Lorenzo Lewis initially struggled to gather men and boys to talk about mental health in a library, but found success by introducing the idea of discussing mental health in barbershops, starting with Goodfellas Barbershop in Little Rock, Arkansas.
22:13
Lorenzo Lewis introduced discussions about mental health in barbershops, leading to open conversations and the development of the Confess Project to train barbers in active listening and stigma reduction.
26:36
Barbers trained by the Confess Project are able to intervene and connect clients in crisis to mental health services, acting as crucial advocates in their communities.
30:30
Barbershops have historically served as intimate spaces where people share personal stories, making them ideal settings for mental health advocacy and support.
35:05
The Confess Project aims to create a sustainable healthcare model by partnering with insurances and implementing a new clinic in Atlanta to provide behavioral health services, care coordination, and patient navigation beyond the barbershop setting.
39:19
The Confess Project aims to expand its services to support mental health for people of all backgrounds and walks of life, emphasizing the importance of seeing individuals for who they truly are.
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