our mission
Brio advances global mental health and wellbeing through design and collaboration with local leaders and organizations.
Every person is created to flourish.
But the burdens of violence and injustice fall heavily on the shoulders of marginalized communities, where as many as 2 in 5 people are at risk for poor mental health. This vicious cycle of marginalization and poor mental health threatens our collective wellbeing and our shared future.
Raising awareness and providing treatment are important, but ultimately insufficient to address the global scale of this problem. We must also cultivate positive mental health— helping individuals and communities build psychological skills that reduce their risk of illness, while promoting freedom and agency in difficult circumstances. Only when we address mental health at the community and population level will the tide begin to turn.
Brio advances global mental health and wellbeing through design and collaboration with local leaders and organizations. Through partnership, training, and resource creation, we are building a world where marginalized communities lead our collective liberation.
how we work
human-centered design
centering participants’ values and experiences in the creation of locally-driven programs
Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT)
an adaptable, evidence-based therapeutic framework that helps individuals and communities develop psychological flexibility. Learn more here.
liberation psychology
actively dismantling the legacy of internalized and external oppression to experience healing, values-derived action, and collective freedom
mental health for communal and environmental change
Each of our partnerships stands for a commitment to community-centered design, where wellbeing initiatives are first created to respond to what matters most to participants— then built for effectiveness and scalability.
Through the years, we have found potential for greatest impact through programs promoting mental health and wellbeing in education, workforce development, and leadership.
Meanwhile, our partners seek not only individual transformation and healing, but also the transformation and healing of systems, cultures, and environments. This vision for a narrative shift, with meaningful concrete implementation, continues to be the ultimate path by which we believe flourishing will be possible for everyone.
our values
Interdependency of communities
Mental health and wellbeing benefit not just individuals, but also their communities. We believe that healing and resilience are developed in the presence and accountability of others. Our solutions are informed and empowered by the local community.
Mutuality of compassion
Healing is not a transaction from one person to another. It’s the joy of finding strength and peace in each other. We constantly learn from the people we serve, and are inspired by their wisdom, love, and hope.
Proximity to vulnerability
It is impossible to make a thoughtful impact in the communities of strangers. We join in solidarity with local teams who are experts in their contexts and deeply committed to long-term transformation.