USA - Building a workforce of lived experience

USA - Building a workforce of lived experience While the youth mental health crisis deepens, SOMETHINGS is proving that the solution isn't just what we deliver, it's who delivers it. 🧠 Their model Train young adults (ages 20-29) with lived mental health experience to become Certified Peer Specialist mentors for teens struggling right now. 🧠 The results speak volumes → 65% reduction in depression → 60% reduction in suicidal ideation → 11,000+ teens supported 🧠 Why this works Teens don't always connect with traditional providers. They want someone who gets it, someone who speaks their language, grew up in the digital age, and has walked a similar path. By certifying near-peers under clinical supervision, Somethings has created a behavioral health workforce that teens actually want to engage with. Available after school hours when isolation peaks. Real-time access when they need it most. Just raised $19.2M Series A led by Catalio Capital Management to expand this model across more states. This is what workforce innovation looks like: taking lived experience, adding training and clinical oversight, and creating accessible care that meets people where they are. Congratulations to Patrick Gilligan and the team at SOMETHINGS on this milestone.