Defiant Optimist Program™
The “Defiant Optimist Program™” eliminates financial barriers to therapy and provides digital mental health and wellness resources to low-income immigrants and people of color. The Program partners with local therapy providers and corporate sponsors to cover the costs of therapy and provide access to wellness resources.
Mission
Bring awareness to mental health issues and access to therapy resources for immigrants and people of color.
The Problem
- More than three in ten adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder since May 2020. In comparison, in 2019, approximately one in ten adults reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder.
- Younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers reported having experienced disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, increased substance use, and elevated suicidal ideation.
The Solution
- The pandemic has increased the severity of symptoms of trauma and mental health issues for those who were already struggling with them.
- As a result, we’re on a mission to spread “defiant optimism” by destigmatizing mental health issues and eliminating barriers to accessing mental health and wellness resources for immigrant and BIPOC communities.
- “Defiant optimism” is not just a catchphrase, it’s the conviction that despite every reason we have to feel defeated and hopeless, there are still REALLY good things we can enjoy and work for together.
- Love You Cookie is making “defiant optimism” go viral in communities that need it the most.
The Plan
- We’ve partnered with community mental health providers (like Creative Kuponya and Regions Hospital) to provide access to free mental health and wellness services.
- We provide funding to cover therapy services for low-income immigrant and BIPOC clients that can’t afford to pay. In addition to paying the costs of therapy, we also:
- Provide access to curated digital content to empower & encourage
- Send a care package of gourmet cookies, merchandise, and other wellness products & services
This initiative is powered by Nafasi Fund, a fiscal sponsor that provides the 501(c)(3) and audit-worthy infrastructure Black-led organizations need to be eligible for funding that supports transformative work.