Kevin Dedner’s desire to improve cultural responsiveness in mental health is a reflection of his own experiences.
Growing up in the South, Dedner experienced trauma and oppression, which led to depression and anxiety. He struggled to find a therapeutic alliance and learned that most existing mental health care models ignore cultural differences. Dedner is the founder and CEO of Hurdle Health, a mental telehealth company designed to help licensed therapists understand the importance of culture when working with Black and brown patients. “We face a hard truth, that the mental health care system was not created for everyone,” Dedner says. According to a 2020 article published on the National Library of Medicine’s website, the pandemic has heightened the need for culturally relevant counseling. The article’s abstract notes that “Mental health clinicians and researchers must be prepared to address the unique needs of Black Americans who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Race-conscious and culturally competent interventions that consider factors such as discrimination, distrust of health care providers, and historical and racial trauma as well as protective factors including social support and culturally sanctioned coping strategies are needed.” Dedner says his company, based in Washington, D.C., helps therapists understand how to bridge the cultural divide. “Hurdle Health addresses culture competency – helping therapists become competent in someone else’s culture,” Dedner says. “Our program provides an ecosystem to help therapists build cultural empathy. “We want to put forward the message that we’re building a place that is welcoming and inviting. We stay involved with our therapists by monitoring customer interactions and providing more help and resources when needed. While working with patients, it’s also important to let them know that their culture will be honored.
“The racial reckoning that occurred after George Floyd’s murder gave voice to people who have had their experiences glossed over. We have to address them in therapy because cultural issues are so tied to Black and brown identity – and those issues can negatively impact your mental health.” Dedner expands on his personal experience, cultural philosophy and the latest mental health research in his new book, “The Joy of the Disinherited: Essays on Trauma, Oppression and Black Mental Health.” In the book, he shares his personal story and notes how the latest research on Black mental health is proof of the need for programs such as Hurdle Health. Plans for Hurdle Health include expanding into Maryland, Virginia, Texas, California and Massachusetts by the end of 2021. Dedner also has big plans for 2022, when the company will expand into another dozen states. “We’re building a company that is culturally intentional and supports the diversity of our country,” says Dedner. “Increasing the diversity of the mental health pipeline is important – therapists don’t have to be Black to try to understand Black mental health”.
First published in Black Mental Health Today, Winter 2021 (No. 2).