Youth Mental Health
Mental health is a growing concern among youth nationwide. In Sullivan County youth face many health risks, including high rates of suicide and not enough mental health services. Additionally, young people report lacking access to essential resources and experiences that help them develop skills, feel connected and give them a sense of purpose.
In partnership with our schools, Sullivan 180 has prioritized youth mental health. The Sullivan 180 Youth Mental Health Program Manager leads initiatives that provide support and technical assistance to schools implementing programs such as SHAPE Assessments and Hope Squads. Additionally, Sullivan 180 offers mental health training and connects schools and communities to essential mental health resources.
SHAPE: School Health Assessment and Performance Evaluation System
SHAPE is a free web-based platform that allows school districts to assess their mental health programs and resources on both a district and building level. SHAPE provides a private workspace that schools can utilize to evaluate and improve the quality of mental health services and supports that are available, while discovering new resources that can benefit our youth.
Sullivan County schools currently participating in SHAPE are: Eldred Junior Senior High School, Fallsburg Junior-Senior High School, George Ross Mackenzie Elementary School (Eldred), Rockland Middle/High School, Sullivan West Elementary School and Sullivan West Secondary School.
If your school is interested in participating in SHAPE, please contact Mylene Ortiz, Youth Mental Health Program Manager, at Mylene@Sullivan180.org or call (845) 295-2692. For additional information on SHAPE, visit TheSHAPESystem.com.
Hope Squad
Hope Squad is an evidence-based, peer-to-peer mental health program that harnesses the power of connection. Built on proven prevention strategies, the program helps reduce suicide risk among youth while promoting mental health awareness and reducing stigma. Students are nominated by their peers to become Hope Squad members, learning about mental health from trained advisors and taking an active, youth-led role in supporting and reaching out to peers who may be struggling. With support from the New York State Office of Mental Health, Sullivan 180 is hosting a three-year pilot of Hope Squad in the Eldred and Fallsburg Central School Districts at both middle and high school levels. Staff advisors and student members collaborate to build active, supportive Hope Squads that foster understanding, compassion, and connection within their schools.
This work is strengthened through participation in Mental Health Matters Day. On this day, Hope Squad members join school staff and community partners to lead activities that raise awareness and reduce stigma. Events often include school-wide campaigns, peer-led discussions, and visible displays of support that encourage students to check in with one another. These efforts help normalize conversations around mental health and reinforce the importance of seeking help. Together, they reflect a growing commitment to ensuring every student feels seen, supported, and empowered to reach out when they need it.
Mental Health Student Interest and Wellness Survey
Sullivan 180 is committed to strengthening youth mental health by listening directly to students. This brief survey gathers feedback on school climate, mental health awareness, help-seeking, peer support, and access to resources.
Student input helps guide programs like Hope Squad and other school-based initiatives, ensuring supports are relevant and responsive to real needs.
Participation is voluntary, and responses are confidential. By sharing their perspective, students help shape a more supportive and connected school environment.
For a full list of trainings offered by Sullivan 180, visit our Trainings page.
Recommended Resources
Mental Health Literacy (MHL)
We are pleased to offer the MHL Aware training through the Mental Health Literacy Collaborative (MHLC). This is a 60-minute self-paced training that addresses professional, personal, and community needs for knowledge, language, and confidence around the topic of mental health. This training serves as the initial step introducing the topic of Mental Health Literacy, explaining why it is important and providing real world application. For more information, please contact Mylene@Sullivan180.org or visit the Training Site.
Suicide Prevention Center of New York State (SPC-NY) Trainings
The Suicide Prevention Center of New York State (SPC-NY) is a statewide initiative under the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) dedicated to reducing suicide through prevention training, resources, and support. SPC-NY offers a wide range of training workshops tailored for educators, school administrators, counselors, and other school staff โ recognizing that schools play a critical role in identifying and responding to students in crisis. For more information, please contact Mylene@Sullivan180.org or visit their Training Site. Sullivan 180 directly provides Suicide Safety for Teachers Training. View the flyer below or visit our Trainings page for more information.
โAt Sullivan 180, our youth mental health programming is built on the belief that young people arenโt just the future, they have the potential to be leaders right now. Every training, every conversation, and every partnership helps empower students to support one another, reduce stigma, and strengthen the wellbeing of our entire community.โ
To learn more about the Sullivan 180 Youth Mental Health Program, contact Mylene Ortiz, Youth Mental Health Program Manager.
Email | 845-295-2692