USA - “We’re creating a new type of non-medically focused resource for depression and anxiety, rooted in community, not…

USA - “We’re creating a new type of non-medically focused resource for depression and anxiety, rooted in community, not clinical walls.” Garrett's Space, founded by University of Michigan alumni Scott Halpert and Julie Halpert in memory of their son, is more than a mental health initiative. It’s a movement redefining care through experience and connection. Built around peer support, lived experience, and shared humanity, Garrett's Space bridges one of the most dangerous gaps in mental health care: the first 30 days after crisis treatment, when a young adult’s risk of suicide is highest. Their approach centers on what experience experts have long known: 🧠 Healing happens in relationship, not isolation. 🧠 People need to be seen as human beings, not diagnoses. 🧠 Experiential knowledge — the insights of those who have walked this path — is essential to building effective systems of care. From cooking classes and nature walks to creative sessions and one-to-one peer spaces, Garrett’s Space offers young adults a haven to reclaim perspective and rebuild belonging. Board members like Brandon Bond emphasize that the voices of participants themselves guide the design, a true example of experiential co-creation. As Scott Halpert says, “We’re not helping people escape their situation, we’re helping them find the tools to manage it.”