PROJECT | IN SEARCH OF SANCTUARY

Threading Hope in Fashion

Overview

As a teen, Otis faced the daunting challenges of mental illness, confronted by depression and suicidal thoughts.

Otis grew up in New York City. From the age of 5, his father was no longer in the picture. Left with his sisters and a now single mother, Otis took on the responsibilities of “man of the house”—a self-assigned role often found amongst boys in fatherless households, and an all too familiar story that often overlooks the psychological woes of children at that developmental age.

Overwhelmed by his trials and recurrent bouts of despair and thoughts of taking his own life, a chance encounter in his school hallways with a teacher turned out to be Otis's saving grace.

Through her compassion, guidance, and support, Otis not only survived but also developed a passion for hat-making that grew from the sewing lessons she taught. His life took

an entirely unanticipated turn, from the brink of desolation to becoming today a milliner highly sought after by celebrities and the world of high fashion.

Otis’s story shines a light on taboo topics, providing a sensitive yet unflinching look at the impact of mental illness on the life of a young Black man and the transformative power of those who perceive the signs and extend a helping hand.

Otis's journey underscores the urgency of suicide prevention and the need for understanding and destigmatizing mental health issues, particularly in the Black community--as well as identifying early signs of mental health problems within the community at this moment when the suicide rate amongst Black youth is at an all-time high in U.S history.

The Project

Otis is being developed into an immersive documentary experience exploring the intersections of fashion, the church, and identity in the Black community. At its heart, the project brings awareness to a silent killer plaguing mostly Black communities: Black youth ages 10-19 have the highest suicide rate compared to their peers of other racial and ethnic groups. The suicide rate amongst Black youth increased by an alarming 144% between 2007 and 2020

Otis’s story brings to light how proper nurturing from one’s environment can change the trajectory of a life. It also poses questions to the viewer, especially in our distracted world of constant media bombardment: Can you spot the signs of depression in a child or a teenager? And how can one redirect a child from self- destruction toward self-realization?

Mental health challenges, from anxiety to depression, are rising globally, particularly among young populations.

United States

In Search of Sanctuary

Otis

This felt like therapy. Until this point, I have not shared my story in a way where I felt heard. It's always been passive. This process was engaging.

| Otis

A Global Picture

While rooted in the Black community’s lived experience, Otis’s story resonates far beyond. Around the world, youth mental health challenges are escalating: suicide is now the fourth-leading cause of death among young males and the third among young females globally. Africa leads the suicide rates globally and Brazil, the second largest of Black people outside of the continent, is not too far behind.

The themes of silence, stigma, and resilience woven into Otis’s journey reflect universal struggles facing young people navigating depression, identity crises, and isolation.

Replicating youth realities: Like Otis, millions of young people confront depression without recognition, often masking their pain until it reaches a breaking point. His story is not isolated but emblematic of a broader, silent crisis.
The role of educators and mentors: A single perceptive teacher altered Otis’s trajectory. Globally, educators and mentors often serve as first responders in mental health, able to recognize warning signs, offer empathy, and channel vulnerability into creativity or purpose.
The cost of neglect: When these safety nets fail, societies experience a devastating loss of talent, voice, and future potential. Otis survived to create beauty and inspire, but countless others are lost before their gifts are realized.

By scaling this narrative, Otis becomes not just a portrait of one man’s survival, but a universal lens on how communities worldwide can nurture hope, recognize signs early, and reimagine cultural tools, like fashion, art, and storytelling, as powerful interventions against despair.