In a state that has regularly surpassed national suicide rates since 1990, according to the Alabama Department of Health, Storeyhouse Counseling and Consulting LLC Founder/Director Tiffany Storey says finances should not be the thing that keeps people from getting the help they need.

In her Q&A with the Lede this week, Storey discussed the importance of prioritizing mental health in both day-to-day life and in Birmingham’s local policymaking.

Tell me more about Storeyhouse. What do you guys do?

So, we’re a mental health firm created to develop resiliency and mental health or mental wellness in underserved communities. And we do that through individual, group, couples’, and family therapy. We also offer corporate wellness and social emotional learning, coaching, and consultation services. And we help educators, entrepreneurs, business owners, and nonprofit leaders really focus on maximizing their performance, their productivity and their profits. By basically equipping them with positive strategies to reduce stress and improve mental and emotional wellness within their organizations.

Your work with underserved communities is something that’s really highlighted on your site. How does making mental health services accessible to these communities have an impact?