At a glance…
- Behavioral health resources in rural areas of Colorado are limited, with every county in Colorado except one considered to have a shortage of therapists.
- Colorado AgrAbility Project provided Behavioral Health support and awareness trainings to Elbert County residents in a community which had experienced a recent increase in suicides.
- Community-based trainings focused on topics including emotional awareness, boundaries, personal wellbeing, resiliency, grief, suicide, and managing anxiety and depression.
Behavioral health resources in rural areas of Colorado are limited, with every county in Colorado except one considered to have a shortage of therapists. People often travel hours to meet with a specialist. Given these limitations, small communities are struggling and desperate to enhance their own skills to support themselves and each other.
After a Legacy Video showing in Elbert County, Colorado AgrAbility Project was asked to provide Behavioral Health support and awareness trainings to their community, a community that had experienced a recent increase in suicides. In response to this need, a nine-part series was initiated, taking place monthly.
The series started with a Legacy Video presentation to acknowledge mental health concerns in rural Colorado, followed by a COMET training to give tools and confidence to community members in social support roles. Seven additional workshops included emotional awareness, boundaries, personal wellbeing, resiliency, grief, taboo topics (including suicide), and managing anxiety/depression during winter months.
On average, 16 people came to each workshop, with a total of 24 different participants. When asked what they are doing differently because of these trainings, one participant said, “I find that I am listening to myself more, not being so hard on myself,and making better efforts to be more positive and having more grace.”
Another said, “I am more aware of my thoughts and emotions, changing negative thoughts to positive thoughts and I am beginning to notice I am more at peace.”
Others committed to coping skills like, “practicing breathing techniques…” “Would like to start journaling.” Participants reported learning about the connection between emotions and boundaries, and “practicing coping and self-care before you need it.“ Other comments included: “Grief comes in many forms.” “Personal wellbeing is so important…we forget to take care of ourselves, and we need to be more mindful.”
This nine-part series increased social connection, protective factors, and self-awareness/coping for participants. When asked how these trainings will impact their community, one participant said, “I’ll make more effort to talk to others.” Checking in on others is a solid outcome: “I am reaching out more to people and asking more specific questions about how they are doing.” “Providing this information to family and friends.” “I have been more mindful when interacting with friends or family going through grief. I am better at just listening, not providing my thoughts or comments.” “I learned how to interact with friends/acquaintances when we are concerned about them.” “I learned methods of checking in to see how someone is truly doing.”