For every 1 mental health therapist in the U.S., there are 350 people in need of support — but simply increasing the number of clinical therapists won’t fix the growing crisis. Dr. Trina Clayeux introduces her transformative, communitybased approach which could close the gap.

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Dr. Trina Clayeux, CEO of Give an Hour, has a transformative idea to address the critical mental health crisis in America. The system we have in place is overwhelmed by demand, but simply adding more therapists isn’t a sufficient solution to support the 1 in 5 Americans who will experience a mental health episode each year.

Dr. Clayeux recognizes the limits of clinical care alone to serve the unique needs of individuals seeking mental health support. This led her to launch a revolutionary communitybased mental health care approach that has already created a network of more than 4,000 mental health ambassadors—trained individuals capable of recognizing emotional distress and providing crisis support—providing voluntary care to nearly 3 million people.

These wellness ambassadors, working directly with people in their communities, demonstrate effectiveness on par with clinical care. Such communitycentric models have proven particularly impactful in tightlyknit groups with scarce mental health resources, like the military. Dr. Clayeux is leading a movement towards leveraging community strength and personal connections in mental health care, showcasing a path where everyone—not just clinically trained therapists—is part of the solution.



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