La Maida Project is addressing the mental health crisis by empowering organizations to adopt an ecological approach to healing that improves the mental health of their teams and those they serve.
We offer training and education for the workforce that increases health literacy, builds regulation and resiliency skills, and strengthens workplace relationships through the power of connection.
A problem with the way we are living
Our society is in the midst of a human problem that has risen to the level of epidemic proportions. We have inherited stories about why we get sick that are not in line with our evolution as human beings and how we are naturally equipped to heal and thrive. La Maida Project is presenting a new story.
Rates of mental illness are growing at a staggering rate, and people are suffering.
50%
of US Adults will experience a mental illness in their lifetime
Research shows that adults and youth are not receiving adequate support
Nearly 60% of youth with depression and 55% of adults with a mental illness do not receive the mental health treatment they need
Managing symptoms with medication is now the mainstream approach
US adults are on a psychoactive medication
And yet, the crisis of mental illness is worsening
Over the last two decades
Suicide rates in the
US increased by
35%
Opioid–related
deaths increased by
345%
The Root of the Problem
At this point in history, we are living in a state of tremendous disconnection from our bodies, our emotions, our relationships, our communities, and from nature. Current attitudes and solutions around mental health treat emotional states as chronic lifelong illnesses, as opposed to human experiences of disconnection and trauma from which we can recover, heal, and grow.
We are bringing awareness, education, and programming to the public about solutions that support healing and promote health in community.
La Maida Project’s Ecological Approach
La Maida Project takes an ecological approach to health, which means addressing the whole person within the context of the systems they are part of.
Just as a houseplant needs the right conditions to grow and thrive, people require supportive environments that nurture their physical, emotional, and mental health. Through tools like the Health Formula (Self + Community + Purpose = Health), individuals are encouraged to view health holistically and engage with factors that build resilience and promote lasting well-being.
At the same time, because workplaces are recognized as having a central influence on health, LMP partners with organizations to strengthen cultures of connection, belonging, and support. This whole-system approach provides both individuals and organizations with concrete tools to reduce burnout, address toxic stress, and create meaningful, lasting change.
Through this work, we are helping to transform how individuals and communities connect, communicate, and heal—rewriting the story of mental health for generations to come.
What We Do
Mental Health Programming
Through in-depth experiential education and training, La Maida Project supports participants in shifting their understanding of mental health and orienting toward health promotion and well-being. These programs help embed values and practices that lead to improved mental health outcomes for individuals and the communities they are part of.
Public Awareness
La Maida Project is dedicated to raising awareness, inspiring systemic change, and cultivating community competency around mental health. We do so through public lectures, educational events, social media, and more. Sharing information that is accurate and inspiring, we believe it is possible to reframe how we view mental health as a society.
Our Impact
Since our founding in 2019, La Maida Project has partnered with leading social service organizations—including McKinley Children’s Center, Save the Children, and City Year to provide a blueprint for health that embeds values, systems, and practices into the everyday operations of their organizations that promote self-agency, resilience, and connection to improve the well-being of their teams and communities they serve.
By partnering directly with organizations that have deep roots in both rural and urban communities across the country, we significantly expand our reach and amplify our collective impact. We support the front-line professionals doing the vital work of care, equipping them with tools to manage stress, foster emotional regulation, and sustain their sense of purpose.
We also arm them with the tools and resources needed to support the mental health of the many they serve.
Based on a proven clinical care model, we provide real-world projects and programs that help our partner organizations become mental-health supporting ecosystems.
Media and Accolades
We have had the honor of being invited to speak at conferences and on media outlets over the years to discuss the role of culture in healing, the importance of supporting the mental health of those who care for others, and how LMP’s approach can guide a path of self-empowerment and the co-creation of optimal mental health both within individuals and within organizations. We have been featured at the NAMIcon CA and the LA Headstart Conference. We have also appeared on the Dhru Purohit Podcast and Kelly Corrigan’s Tell Me More.
Partners
Innovation in mental health is in high demand and we need more people willing to champion causes that are offering system solutions. La Maida Project’s approach is upstream, working at the root of the problem to promote the conditions for regenerating connection and community as the natural foundation of optimal mental health.
With your support we can build sustainable solutions that address the problem and create change.
DONATEEngage With Us
Join the community of people who are rewriting the story of mental health and well-being with La Maida Project. Let’s work together to support each other through these uncertain times by securing our human nature and innate resilience.
