Current Season: Uncovering & Overcoming Hidden Barriers to Mental Health Care
9 episodes. Real voices from across the US. Crowdsourced solutions shaping real policy. No experience needed— every perspective matters.
America’s Mental Health Crisis has moved beyond awareness. The challenge now is action.
We all know the statistics. Millions of Americans—teens and adults alike are experiencing increased stress, self-harmful behavior, suicidal ideation and mental illness. Many are turning to drugs & alcohol for relief.
Funding has increased. Resources are widely available. Awareness campaigns are pervasive. Yet, despite this progress, utilization of mental health services remains strikingly low. People are still struggling—often silently—without engaging in the care designed to support them.
This season asks a critical question: Why don’t people engage in mental health care when help is available?
YOUR VOICE COULD BE THE CATALYST FOR UNCOVERING & OVERCOMING THE BARRIERS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
Join the discussion below.
Life After Death: A Journey to Mental Wellness
Two overdoses from which he had to be revived, but Daniel Lazzari was already “dead” living most of his youth and early adulthood checked-out or using substances to escape the nagging feelings of fear, anxiety, and depression that he battled from his early childhood. Like so many whose struggles went untreated and unidentified in early childhood, Daniel lacked the ability to understand what he was experiencing, the awareness that life didn’t have to be scary or sad and the ability to communicate it to others.
As we turn the spotlight on our Mental Health Ambassadors, Daniel speaks with remarkable honesty, accountability, and insight about his journey from unidentified depression, anxiety and inner turmoil that led to addiction and his journey to recovery and mental wellness. His story offers hope while helping us better understand why so many people never receive the mental health care they need.
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
Common Ground Chronicles — Season 2 Episodes
Roundtable Discussions
Mental Health Ambassadors
Passionate about MENTAL HEALTH? Watch to see how you can get involved in our upcoming season “Uncovering & Overcoming Hidden Barriers to Mental Health Care.”
Ambassador Spotlight
Life After Death: A Journey to Mental Wellness
Two overdoses from which he had to be revived, but Daniel Lazzari was already “dead” living most of his youth and early adulthood checked-out or using substances to escape the nagging feelings of fear, anxiety, and depression...
More to Watch
Previous Seasons
An Inspiring Story of Grassroots Disaster Volunteers
When disaster struck Los Angeles, a small team of chefs and community leaders stepped up—and fed over 10,000 people. In this episode of Community, Serve Us, we highlight the inspiring story behind the OC Chefs Relief Fund and California Love Drop.
360° Storytelling & Facilitating Discussions in Disaster Recovery
In this episode of Community, Serve Us, Founder and CEO Danielle Busko hosts a powerful discussion on how immersive storytelling and nonpartisan collaboration can shape disaster recovery, starting with the LA Wildfires.
Crowdsourcing to Support Wildfire & Disaster Recovery
In this discussion, expert panelists explore how Community, Serve Us is building a new model for disaster recovery and humanitarian response. As climate change accelerates, many communities are left isolated without real-time access to the help, resources, or information they need.
Technology in Wildfire Recovery & Prevention
In this discussion, we explore how community service and technology can work together to combat wildfires, support disaster relief, and create lasting solutions.
General Videos
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Breaking the Silence: How Can We Make Mental Health Support Feel Safer to Seek?
Welcome to the Wall of Hope
Hope has many voices. Sometimes, it speaks through art.
The Wall of Hope is Community, Serve Us’ creative gallery where you can share original artwork inspired by your experiences with mental health, resilience, healing, hope, or the barriers you’ve faced along the way.
Whether it’s a painting, drawing, photograph, poem, song, dance, spoken word performance, or another creative work, your story can help others feel seen, reduce stigma, inspire hope, and deepen our understanding of the hidden barriers to mental health care.
Your submission becomes more than a work of art. It becomes part of a community conversation that helps spark empathy, inspire new ideas, and crowdsource solutions that make mental health support more accessible for everyone.
Create. Share. Inspire Hope. Build Solutions.
Need Inspiration?
Not sure where to begin? Try one of these prompts:
- Create something that represents a barrier you’ve faced without naming it directly.
- Show us what healing feels like using color, sound, movement, or words.
- If your emotions today had a soundtrack, what would it be?
- Express something you’ve never said out loud through art, poetry, music, or performance.
- What does being understood look or feel like to you?
- Turn a difficult moment into something creative. What emerges?
- If your experience could speak without words, what would it show?
- What gives you hope?
- What does resilience look like in your life?
The Wall of Hope
View the wall →I was walking and talking with someone, reflecting on trauma and others' horrible opinions of what I've been through and said, "here, let me explain it through song," and, the…
Open video →💬 Continue the Conversation
"What do you hope happens after someone experiences your work?"
Reduce judgement and misunderstanding — help others have empathy →Your Voice Can Shape What Comes Next
We're currently in our user research phase — and what we hear from real people right now will directly inform the direction of our upcoming season. Whether you're a community member with a story to share or a mental health professional ready to lend your expertise, there's a place for you here. Select participants may also be invited to continue through the full season.
Express Your Interest
We'll follow up to schedule a brief interview. All roles are volunteer-based.
Thank You!
We've received your interest and will be in touch soon to schedule a brief interview. We're grateful you want to be part of this movement.
Featured Articles
Get Involved! Join the Mental Health Ambassador Program
July 21, 2026
Our upcoming season is in development — and right now, before a single episode airs,...
Read more →
Community, Serve Us Creator/Executive Producer, Danielle Busko, Featured in VoyageLA.
March 16, 2026
Community, Serve Us Creator/Executive Producer, Danielle Busko said she was humbled and honored when VoyageLA...
Read more →Contact us if you need help with our community, have a question about our content or are interested in partnering with us.
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