TAKE FIVE!

November 09, 2021

Samantha Dorn:
Hi, I’m Samantha Dorn. Welcome to Sullivan 180 Presents ….Take 5!. Our guest today is Jenny Sanchez, the Grants and Mental Health Program Manager, with Sullivan 180. Welcome Jenny, and thanks for being here.

Jenny Sanchez:
Thanks for having me!

Samantha Dorn:
Can you please introduce yourself and give a brief description of your role with Sullivan 180?

Jenny Sanchez:
Sure! I’m Jenny Sanchez, Grants and Mental Health Program Manager with Sullivan 180. Sullivan 180 is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health of Sullivan County: making our community a healthier place to live, work, play, and raise a family. We are working with many community partners to turn around the health of our community, “one degree at a time”. My role is twofold. First, I identify and apply for various funding opportunities that create and support health and wellness in Sullivan County. Additionally, on the “mental health part” of my position, I offer several mental health trainings and workshops for the community.

Samantha Dorn:
Can you talk about your “Mental Health and Wellness” and “Suicide Prevention” workshops?

Jenny Sanchez:
Certainly! First I want to say that all trainings and workshops offered are free to the community. I provide three versions of “Intro to Mental Health and Wellness Workshops”: one for educators, one for parents, and one for high school students. These trainings provide attendees with several things: a working definition of mental health and trauma, an understanding of protective and risk factors for mental illness, warning signs for children and teens that have a mental health challenge or a traumatic stress response, and tips for self-care and resources available in Sullivan County to access help. I’m also an instructor for “Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor”, which is an evidence-based, in-depth course that teaches adults working with youth. We teach “how to help adolescents experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge” and “helping people who are in crisis”. And last I’m also an instructor for “QPR Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention”. QPR is an evidence-based suicide prevention training that stands for “Question Persuade, Refer”. It teaches students how to discuss difficult topics with depressed individuals, how to offer them hope and how to provide them with resources so they can get the help that they need. In many ways, “QPR” is just like “CPR”: it is an invaluable and potentially life saving emergency response, aimed at those in crisis. This is a 90 minute training followed by 30 minutes of question and answer session. This instruction is for anyone 16 and older.

Samantha Dorn:
So why is it so important for our residents to learn or be trained in these areas?

Jenny Sanchez:
Sullivan County has had the highest suicide mortality rate in the Hudson Valley for the last 10 years, which is “15.1 deaths by suicide per a hundred thousand people”. And this rate is also higher than the New York State rate of “eight per a hundred thousand people”. We want to change those numbers. And, especially in light of the current virus pandemic, we’ve seen a higher rate of youth experiencing mental health challenges and crises.

Samantha Dorn:
How can people stay up to date with the trainings and workshops being offered, schedule a workshop for their group or school, or just learn more.

Jenny Sanchez:
You can visit our website: www.sullivan180.org or contact me via email: jsanchez@sullivan180.org.

Samantha Dorn:
Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

Jenny Sanchez:
Yes! Sullivan 180, in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension, is starting a “Sullivan Resilience Coalition”. In Sullivan County, there are currently two copies of the film “Resilience: the Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope”, and we are so excited to share this film with you! The film provides participants with a deeper understanding of ACEs, which are “adverse childhood experiences”. The film dives into cutting-edge research and highlights how toxic stress adversely affects health and brain development. Thhis stress is linked to everything from heart disease and cancer to substance abuse and depression. Sullivan 180 is the “Resilience Team” , and we will lead a discussion about gut reactions and feedback following the film screening. We talk about treating and preventing toxic stress in children, thereby greatly improving the health of future generations. So please reach out to me if you’re interested in scheduling a film screening of “Resilience” and having a discussion with your group.

Samantha Dorn:
That sounds great! Well, thank you for joining us today, Jenny, and thanks for helping Sullivan 180 build a healthy community.

Jenny Sanchez:
Thank you!