(MUSIC PLAYING) - I'VE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT I JUST WANTED THE PAIN TO STOP.

- SUICIDE IS A HUGE CONCERN.

IF THAT'S KIND OF THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF SUFFERING, THEN WHAT DO WE NEED?

WHAT DOES SOCIETY NEED?

- IT'S OK FOR IT TO WEIGH YOU DOWN.

YOU JUST CAN'T LET IT STOP YOU COMPLETELY.

GETTING BACK UP, THAT'S THE HARDEST PART.

IT'S REALLY EVERYWHERE.

AT LEAST YOUR CHILD'S FRIEND GROUP, THERE ARE AT LEAST ONE OR TWO PEOPLE IN THAT FRIEND GROUP THAT THEY HAVE SOME TYPE OF DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY OR AT LEAST A PLAN OF SUICIDE, THAT THEY HAVE HISTORY WITH THAT.

AND AT LEAST TALKING ABOUT IT OR MAKING IT KNOWN AND MAKING IT KNOWN THAT YOU'RE THERE FOR THEM, THAT'S A VERY BIG HELP.

GETTING BACK UP, THAT'S THE HARDEST PART.

MY NAME IS KATE PITONES.

I'M GOING INTO 10TH GRADE, AND I'M 15.

I GO TO KUNSMILLER CREATIVE ARTS ACADEMY.

I'M PRETTY INTO SCULPTURE RIGHT NOW.

I'M A VERY MUCH PERFECTIONIST WHEN IT COMES TO OTHER ASPECTS IN MY LIFE.

BUT AS SOON AS IT'S SELF-WORK AND PERSONAL WORK AND PHYSICAL LABOR OF ME DOING SOMETHING, IT GETS SO TIRING.

AND THE WEIGHT OF ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT I'M THINKING, "OH, THIS HAS TO BE PERFECTLY RIGHT," AND ALL THAT WEIGHT IS JUST ON MY SHOULDERS, AND IT WEIGHS ME DOWN SO MUCH.

SO, TALKING ABOUT THAT, IT WAS LIKE, IT'S OK FOR IT TO WEIGH YOU DOWN.

YOU JUST CAN'T LET IT STOP YOU COMPLETELY.

- THE CURRENT STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH FOR YOUTH IN THE STATE OF COLORADO IS PRETTY ALARMING.

MY NAME IS DR. JESSICA HAWKS.

I AM CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGIST AND THE CLINICAL DIRECTOR OF THE PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL COLORADO.

THE KINDS OF STRESS THAT YOUTH ARE UNDER IS UNLIKE ANYTHING ANY PREVIOUS GENERATION HAS EVER EXPERIENCED.

AND A BIG PART OF THAT IS THE FACT THAT THEY ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THEIR PEERS 24/7.

THEY HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND NEWS THAT IS WELL BEYOND THEIR DEVELOPMENT, ALL THE TIME ACCESSIBLE TO THEM.

AND I THINK THAT'S A REAL CONCERN BECAUSE IT CLEARLY IS A MISMATCH BETWEEN WHAT AN INDIVIDUAL CAN REALLY PROCESS AND THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO ACCESS.

- DURING THE PAST YEARS IN PANDEMIC AND GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, IT WAS JUST LIKE, I KNOW NONE OF THESE TEACHERS.

I KNOW NONE OF THESE STUDENTS.

I KNOW NONE OF THESE NAMES.

I KNOW NONE OF THESE CLASSES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT SUBJECT THIS IS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I REALLY LEARNED ANYTHING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

I HAVE MY NOTES AND EVERYTHING FROM WHAT I TRIED TO LEARN, BUT IT WAS JUST SO ISOLATING THAT IT WAS LIKE, I CAN'T FOCUS.

IT'S JUST MORE LONELINESS, AND THE DEPRESSION THAT CAME IN AND THE ANXIETY THAT CAME IN.

AND IT WAS JUST LIKE, ONCE WE FINALLY GOT BACK INTO SCHOOL, IT WAS MORE "I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT EVEN THOUGH I'M SHOWING ALL THE DANGER SIGNS OF DEPRESSION OF HAVING A PLAN ON SUICIDE."

AND IT'S SO SCARY BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHO DO I TELL ABOUT THIS?

BECAUSE WE DIDN'T FULLY HAVE THE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE NOW.

- THERE'S BEEN NATIONAL DISCOURSE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRATING MENTAL HEALTH CARE INTO SCHOOL SETTINGS.

AND I THINK THE STATE OF COLORADO HAS ACTUALLY BEEN REALLY A PIONEER IN THIS REGARD.

- ONE OF MY TEACHERS WAS LIKE, "HEY, THERE'S THIS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OPPORTUNITY WITH YOUR GROUP THAT IS DOING THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT OF THE SCHOOL AND HOW WE BREAK DOWN THE STIGMA AND IMPLEMENT MORE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INTO OUR SCHOOL."

AND IT WAS JUST LIKE, I'LL HAPPILY TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

IT JUST STARTED OFF AS JUST SPITBALLING IDEAS OF LIKE, AT HOME, YOU'RE IN YOUR ROOM.

YOU'RE ALWAYS... YOU SIT IN YOUR ROOM WITH ALL YOUR EMOTIONS, AND YOU'RE USUALLY--EITHER YOU'RE SCREAMING INTO A PILLOW OR PUNCHING A PILLOW OR ABOUT TO CRY IN YOUR OWN ROOM.

BUT WHAT IF WE HAD THAT ROOM AT SCHOOL, LIKE A MENTAL HEALTH ROOM, WHERE YOU COULD DO THE EXACT SAME THING AND GET THROUGH THE REST OF YOUR DAY?

- BY THE AGE OF 14, MOST MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS HAVE AT LEAST STARTED TO EMERGE TO SOME DEGREE, EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT CONTINUE THROUGHOUT AN INDIVIDUAL'S LIFETIME.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THOSE MENTAL HEALTH DIFFICULTIES FOR YEARS AND DECADES, IT'S A WHOLE LOT MORE DIFFICULT TO BREAK FREE FROM THOSE HABITS .

AND YET, WHEN WE HAVE A YOUNG CHILD, WHO'S STILL EMERGING IN THEIR LIFE, THEY HAVE A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY AND MALLEABILITY TO THEM, AND THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP TRANSFORM WHAT THEIR OVERALL LIFE CAN LOOK LIKE.

- IT STARTED OFF AS LIKE, OH, A MENTAL HEALTH ROOM, A MENTAL HEALTH ROOM.

AND IT WAS JUST-- IT WAS SO GREAT TO SEE THE INPUT FROM STUDENTS OF WHAT THEY WOULD WANT TO SEE IN THIS ROOM AND HOW HELPFUL IT WOULD BE.

BECAUSE SOME WOULD SAY, "OH, MY GOD, YOU GUYS ARE DOING A MENTAL HEALTH ROOM?"

AND I'M LIKE, " YEAH."

AND IT'S LIKE, "OH, MY GOD, I CAN'T WAIT TO USE THAT BECAUSE I'VE TRIED NOT TO CRY, LIKE, THREE TIMES TODAY."

AND I'M LIKE, "WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO USE THE MENTAL HEALTH ROOM NOW."

(MUSIC PLAYING) (MUSIC PLAYING) - I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW ISOLATING IT CAN BE TO BE QUEER IN A SPACE WHERE YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE BEING OUT OR OPEN.

ISSUES THAT FACE THIS COMMUNITY ARE AS MULTIFACETED AS THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES.

AND SO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSON'S EXPERIENCE IN THAT.

MY NAME IS BRE DONNELLY.

I'M A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER.

AND I WORK WITH JOY AS RESISTANCE, WHICH IS A MOBILE MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC FOR LGBTQ YOUTH.

I WAS A SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER IN THE FAR NORTHEAST.

AND THE STUDENTS THAT I WAS WORKING WITH, WE KEPT RUNNING INTO ALL THESE BARRIERS TO GETTING CLINICIANS WHO WERE AFFIRMING TO THEIR IDENTITY AND ALSO AFFORDABLE AND ALSO ACCESSIBLE.

THE MOBILE CLINIC WAS KIND OF AN OPTION TO ELIMINATE THE BARRIER OF TRANSPORTATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

IT WAS JUST ME UNTIL APRIL OF THIS YEAR.

AND THEN I HIRED MY FIRST PERSON.

AND NOW WE HAVE A TEAM OF FIVE PEOPLE TOTAL.

AND EVERYONE'S GOING TO PUT THEIR FINISHING TOUCH ON WHAT THE AMBULANCE LOOKS LIKE.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A DISCO BALL UP THERE, WHICH IS HONESTLY THE THING I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT.

I'M LEGIT SMILING UNDER MY MASK.

AND THAT WAS THE MAIN THING WITH AN AMBULANCE THAT I WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT, WAS THAT IT WAS GOING TO FEEL REALLY CLINICAL AND COLD.

AND SO, REALLY RECREATING AND RECLAIMING THIS SPACE FOR COZINESS, FOR WARMTH, FOR HEALING, WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

COST SHOULD NEVER BE A BARRIER TO ACCESSING OUR SERVICES.

WE HAVE FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT INSURANCES THAT WE TAKE RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE CREDENTIALED THROUGH.

WE ALSO OFFER EVERYTHING THAT WE DO ON A SLIDING SCALE.

WE WORK WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL FAMILY OR NONPROFIT OR SCHOOL OR WHATEVER TO FIND A PRICE THAT WORKS BEST FOR THEM.

NOBODY IS TURNED AWAY FOR COST, BUT IT LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE, DEPENDING ON THEIR SITUATION.

THE STATISTICS ARE ALL REALLY ROUGH.

SUBSTANCE USE, SUICIDE RATES, SELF-HARM STATISTICS, HOMELESSNESS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT COME UP FOR OUR QUEER YOUTH, AND THEY'RE AT A HIGHER RISK FOR SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

AND SO, THE THING THAT HAS KEPT ME GOING THIS WHOLE TIME IS TRULY THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WE WORK WITH WHO I'M SEEING PROGRESS WITH EVERY DAY.

TO HAVE THAT AVAILABLE IN OUR CLINICIANS HERE IS JUST...

IT'S AMAZING.

THAT'S THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GET A LOT, AND IT REALLY MAKES ME FEEL EXCITED.

[CHEERING] - I'VE BEEN DOING ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY AND PHOTOGRAPHY AND ALL THIS STUFF.

AND WE WENT OUT ONTO THE PLAINS, AND WE INVESTIGATED THIS OLD 1910S TO 1940S COUPLE NAMED THE CLAYTONS.

AND THEY WERE MOONSHINERS.

AND IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.

MOST OF WHAT I LIKE DOING IS DISCOVERING, INVESTIGATING, AND THINKING AND SEEING ABOUT ANYTHING.

MY NAME IS COLE TUCKER.

I'M 18.

ONE DAY, I WAS COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL, AND IT HAD BEEN A REALLY BAD DAY.

I GUESS IT WAS SORT OF THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK.

IT'D BEEN A PRETTY BAD YEAR FOR ME, HONESTLY.

I DON'T REMEMBER THE DETAILS OF WHAT THAT DAY WAS LIKE.

I JUST HOPPED ON THE BUS.

AND I THINK I HAD A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, SO I GOT OFF THE BUS, AND I WAS GOING TO WALK INTO A BUSY STREET AND JUST LET A CAR HIT ME.

THAT'S HOW IT ALL STARTED, I GUESS, FROM JUST NOT WANTING TO LIVE, TO ACTIVELY WANTING TO DIE.

I WAS QUESTIONING MYSELF BECAUSE THIS DIDN'T REALLY SEEM LIKE A RATIONAL THING TO DO.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHY I WAS HAVING THIS FEELING.

I STEPPED OUT OFF THE STREET, WAITED FOR MOM TO COME AND PICK ME UP.

AND THEN I TOLD HER EVERYTHING.

I JUST WANTED THE PAIN TO STOP.

IF I DIED, THEN I ASSUMED THAT I WOULDN'T FEEL ANYTHING.

AND THEREFORE, I'D BE HAPPY.

ONE THING I'VE REALLY LEARNED THROUGH ALL OF THIS IS THAT I NEED TO FIND THE GOOD IN EVERYTHING I DO, OTHERWISE I'M GOING TO GET NOTHING OUT OF THIS.

- COLE DEVELOPED A VERY IMPRESSIVE PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

MY NAME IS THOMAS CARR.

I WAS COLE'S MENTOR.

I WAS TRAINING HIM TO USE FILM CAMERAS.

AND I KNOW WE WENT ON ONE HIKE, AND IT WAS AT THE CALHAN PAINT MINES.

AND WE GET DOWN INTO THE MINES, AND IT'S A GOOD MILE AND A HALF HIKE.

AND HE TAKES ONE PICTURE, AND IT'S THE END OF THE ROLL.

AND WE'RE LIKE, "OH, WE'VE GOT YOUR OTHER ROLL OF FILM HERE SOMEWHERE."

WELL, WE LOOK IN HIS BAG.

I LOOK IN MY POCKETS.

HE LOOKS IN HIS POCKETS.

NOTHING.

SO, HE ONLY GOT TO TAKE ONE SHOT.

BUT THAT ONE SHOT IS PERFECT.

IT'S PERFECTLY COMPOSED.

IT'S PERFECTLY EXPOSED.

IT'S PERFECTLY IN FOCUS.

ONE OF THE RED ROCKS PICTURES, THERE WAS LIKE A HEAT DAMAGE, BECAUSE IT WAS PRETTY HOT THAT DAY.

BUT THE HEAT DAMAGE CREATED THIS YELLOWISH HUE IN THE SKY THAT ACTUALLY MADE IT LOOK PERFECT.

AND I THOUGHT HE WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED THAT.

I DON'T THINK HE GOT TO SEE THAT PHOTOGRAPH.

I PRINTED THAT AFTER IT WAS TOO LATE, NOT TOO LATE, BUT UNTIL IT WAS... A DIFFERENT TIME.

- COLE'S DEATH WAS A COMPLETE SHOCK.

HE HAD FOUGHT THROUGH SO MUCH DEPRESSION.

- HE COULDN'T GET INTO A RHYTHM, IT SEEMS.

WE FOUND A PROGRAM IN COSTA RICA, MAYBE A 60-DAY TO 90-DAY PROGRAM.

HE WAS ONLY THERE THREE DAYS.

AND...

HE SLIPPED AND FELL ON A HIKE AND HIT HIS HEAD.

- HE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JUNGLE.

THEY COULDN'T REVIVE HIM.

AND IT WAS...

COMPLETE SHOCK TO MY SYSTEM.

I'M STILL SHOCKED BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE I WAS SEEING... [BREATHING HEAVILY] HIS LIFE, JUST... [SOBBING] PASSING BEFORE MY EYES.

MY NAME IS LISA WEISS RUDOFSKY.

AND I'M COLE'S MOM.

- MY NAME IS JASON RUDOFSKY, COLE'S STEPFATHER.

HE JUST--HE HAD THIS GIFT OF COMING ACROSS AS SO COMPASSIONATE WITHOUT EVEN SAYING ANYTHING SOMETIMES.

- HE WAS AN AMAZING HUMAN BEING.

HE WAS HIGHLY MENTALLY AWARE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT IS WHAT COLE REALLY WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW.

I THINK THAT'S WHY HE PUT HIMSELF OUT THERE WITH THE FIRST INTERVIEW WITH ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS.

- I'VE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT I JUST WANTED THE PAIN TO STOP.

BEING SUICIDAL SEEMS SO PREVALENT TODAY.

I DON'T THINK I CAN TALK TO EVERY KID ON EARTH AND INVENT SOME SORT OF GIANT MICROPHONE AND JUST YELL OUT MY MESSAGE 24/7.

I CAN'T.

BUT I CAN REACH A LOT MORE PEOPLE THROUGH THIS, SO I'M JUST HOPING IT HELPS.

- HE WAS PUT IN A POSITION TO DEFEND AND PROTECT AND ADVOCATE FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

AND WHAT HE LACKED WAS ADVOCATING FOR HIMSELF.

AND THAT WAS REALLY WHAT PUSHED HIM TO GO OUTSIDE OF HIS COMFORT ZONE TO GO TO THE PROGRAM THAT HE WENT TO.

IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE REALLY WANTED TO DO.

- THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE CHANGE.

AND HE WAS HAPPY.

HE WAS HAPPY THAT HE WAS MAKING THIS CHOICE FOR HIMSELF.

HE WAS HAPPY TO BE ON THIS JOURNEY.

- I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT HE WAS AT PEACE AND THAT HE WAS HAPPY TO BE DOING WHAT HE WAS DOING, AND PROUD OF HIMSELF FOR DOING IT.

- WE WOULD TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

HE WOULD TALK ABOUT MENTAL STRENGTH AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR HUMANITY TO OVERCOME THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

TAKE IN THE LITTLE THINGS, AND JUST TRY YOUR BEST TO LIVE AS GOOD OF LIFE AS POSSIBLE.

- I JUST THINK THAT HE WOULD WANT HIS LIFE TO BE REMEMBERED.

HE HAD SUCH A HARD LIFE, BUT...

HE WAS SO STRONG.

HE HAD STRUGGLED THROUGH IT ALL, AND HE HAD MADE IT THROUGH IT ALL.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - COVID REALLY, IT SHAPED ME AS A PERSON BECAUSE IT TORE ME APART.

I KNOW BEING ONLINE, IT JUST--IT REALLY HURT ME SO MUCH.

I KNOW I WAS FEELING VERY DOWN EVERY DAY.

AND IT TAUGHT ME THAT YOU'VE GOT TO BE JUST SO, SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING.

DURING COVID, I LOST LOVED ONES.

AND THAT TOOK A TOLL ON ME, TOO, BECAUSE IT TAUGHT ME THAT YOU CAN'T TAKE LIFE FOR GRANTED AND THAT THINGS WILL ALWAYS HAPPEN THAT AREN'T IN YOUR CONTROL, NO MATTER WHAT.

I HAVE USED THE I MATTER SESSIONS, AND THEY'VE REALLY HELPED ME A LOT.

- I THINK I MATTER IS DOING A WONDERFUL THING BY PROVIDING SIX FREE SESSIONS TO OUR YOUTH, BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES ADDRESS A LOT OF THE BARRIERS THAT YOUTH MIGHT FACE IN ACCESSING CARE.

THERAPY ALLOWS A SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL ACCEPTED AND SEEN AND UNDERSTOOD.

IT ALSO ALLOWS THEM TO KIND OF HAVE A LOT OF AUTONOMY WHEN IT COMES TO CHOOSING THEIR CLINICIAN OR SIGNING UP FOR THEMSELVES IF THEY MIGHT NOT FEEL SUPPORTED BY THEIR GUARDIANS OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

- I HAD TO USE I MATTER BECAUSE I REALLY WAS JUST FEELING A LITTLE BIT SAD.

AFTER SPRING BREAK, EVERYONE HAD GONE BACK IN PERSON.

I WAS ONE OF THE ONLY PEOPLE ONLINE, ALONG WITH A FEW OTHERS.

AND IT REALLY MADE ME REALLY SAD SEEING OTHERS INTERACTING WITH ALL THEIR FRIENDS, AND ME NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE I WAS ALSO NEW FRESHMAN YEAR.

- IT FEELS AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO JUST BE A PART OF A SYSTEM OR A PROGRAM THAT MAKES IT REALLY EASY FOR YOUTH TO ACCESS SERVICES.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - THE SUICIDE RATE IN THE STATE OF COLORADO, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR YOUTH IS VERY HIGH, PARTICULARLY IN THE MOUNTAIN REGION.

SUICIDE IS A HUGE CONCERN.

SO, YOUR QUESTION LEADS ME TO THINK, IF THAT'S KIND OF THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF SUFFERING, THEN WHAT DO WE NEED?

WHAT DOES SOCIETY NEED?

MY NAME IS JANINA FARIÑAS, AND I'M THE CEO AND FOUNDER OF LA COCINA.

LA COCINA IS A NONPROFIT MENTAL HEALTHCARE CLINIC.

WE ARE LATINX-FOUNDED, LATINX-LED AND LATINX-SERVING.

LA COCINA MEANS "THE KITCHEN" IN ENGLISH.

THE STORY OF OUR NAME COMES FROM, REALLY, DOLORES HUERTA AND CESAR CHAVEZ.

THEY USED TO ORGANIZE IN KITCHENS WHEN THEY ORGANIZED THE MIGRANT WORKERS' UNION IN CALIFORNIA.

AND THEY WOULD OFTEN CLOSE THEIR MEETINGS BY SAYING, "TODAS LAS REVOLUCIONES COMIENZAN EN LA COCINA," "ALL REVOLUTIONS BEGIN IN THE KITCHEN."

AT SOME POINT, A GROUP OF US, MYSELF AND OTHER LATINOS, GOT TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH WERE SPECIFIC AROUND MENTAL HEALTHCARE.

AND WE DECIDED TO FOUND LA COCINA.

- MY SON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HYPERATIVITY... AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEMS STARTED AT SCHOOL.

HELLO, MY NAME IS TERESA GONZALEZ AND I LIVE IN FT. COLLINS, CO. AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS OF MY CHILD I HAD A LOT OF... ANXIETY AND PERHAPS EVEN DEPRESSION.

UNTIL NOW IT WAS THE WORST NEWS I RECEIVED IN MY LIFE.

I WAS IN THERAPY FOR A YEAR.

I HAD TO CHANGE MY SON'S SCHOOL.

BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T REALLY HELP US.

EVERY DAY I HAD TO GO TO THE SCHOOL FOR A DIFFERENT PROBLEM.

I ALWAYS HAD TO PICK HIM UP BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T.... WANT TO DEAL WITH HIM AND THEY WOULDN'T HELP FIND... A SOLUTIONS THAT COULD HELP.

I FELT LIKE THE WORST MOTHER IN THE WORLD.

I FELT SO GUILTY, THEY MADE ME FEEL LIKE THAT AT THE SCHOOL.

ALSO ASIDE FROM BEING HYPERACTIVE... MY SON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTSIM.

IF I HADN'T HAD THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF LA COCINA ...

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE.

- REALLY, IN TERMS OF TRENDS, FOR A VERY LONG TIME, I THINK PEOPLE BELIEVED--AND THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES--PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT THE MENTAL HEALTHCARE OF OUR COMMUNITY WAS MUCH WORSE THAN FOR WHITE COMMUNITIES.

BUT THAT'S REALLY A MISCONCEPTION.

IT'S A MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ACTUALLY GOES ON.

IN FACT, HERE AT LA COCINA, BECAUSE WE PRIMARILY SEE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IS HELPING FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE MENTAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S VERY, VERY FOREIGN TO THEM.

FOR AN IMMIGRANT TO ARRIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE... YOU HAVE NO ONE, YOU ARE COMPLETELY ALONE, WITH LANGUAGE BARRIERS, WITH TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS, PLUS, ALL THE CHALLENGES WITH BEING AN IMMIGRANT.

MY NAME IS ANA RAQUEL GOMEZ.

I WAS BLESSED TO ARRIVE AT LA COCINA AND THEY SUPPORTED ME EMOTIONALLY.

MET MY SPECIFIC NEEDS AS A LATINX SERVING ORGANIZATION AS SIMPLE AS LISTENING TO PEOPLE SPEAK TO YOU IN SPANISH.

IT IS SUCH A RELIEF.

- THE NEEDS, FOR EXAMPLE, MIGHT BE IDENTIFIED ELSEWHERE AS HAVING SOMETHING TO DO WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.

AND WHILE THAT MAY BE TRUE CLINICALLY, FOR MOST OF OUR COMMUNITY, IT SEEMS TO STEM DIRECTLY FROM LACK OF ACCESS TO SERVICES, LACK OF ACCESS TO MONEY, AND REALLY NOT BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM.

IF ONE PIECE OF KNOWLEDGE IS DOMINANT OVER ALL OTHER KNOWLEDGE, THEN EVERYONE ELSE THINKS THEY'RE WRONG.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SHIFT.

WE SAY, "WE VALUE THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR CUSTOMERS, OF OUR CLIENTS, OF OUR PATIENTS."

AND WE ELEVATE THAT KNOWLEDGE BECAUSE THEY KNOW BETTER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON.

SO, THIS PIECE ABOUT ALLOWING OUR COMMUNITY TO REALLY DEFINE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT THE HEALING JOURNEY IS, THAT NEEDS TO BE CENTERED.

SOCIETY NEEDS THAT.

BECAUSE THEN NO ONE IS WRONG ABOUT THE WAY THEY HEAL.

- THE LA COCINA TEAM IS A BLESSING IN MY LIFE.

THEY HELP ME AND MY FAMILY A LOT.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM.

I FEEL THEM AS PART OF MY FAMILY.

I HAVE A SPECIAL CONNECTION WITH THEM AND....

I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THEM.

THEY'RE A PART OF MY FAMILY NOW.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - I WANT TO BE HONEST.

IT'S SCARY, BUT IT'S SO SELF-FULFILLING.

KNOWING THAT IF I MAKE THE STEP, SOMEBODY ELSE OF COLOR COMES AND MAKES THE STEP, SOMEBODY WHO'S QUEER MAKES THAT STEP.

THE MORE WE MARCH TOGETHER, THE MORE YOU'LL SEE MORE OF OUR REPRESENTATION.

MY NAME IS KARINA MURO.

I AM A FULL-TIME SOCIAL STUDENT HERE AT MSU DENVER.

I GREW UP IN WISCONSIN, WHICH IS A SMALL, RURAL FARMLAND COUNTY.

SINCE I AM A LATINX, QUEER WOMAN, GROWING UP, I KNEW THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME.

AND SO , I WANT TO BE A CLINICIAN THAT IS ABLE TO HELP THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

THAT ONE PERSON DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

- ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE BUILD A WORKFORCE THAT IS DIVERSE IS, WE HAVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FROM ALL ACROSS COLORADO COMMUNITIES.

AND YET, IF I'M A PERSON OF COLOR, OR IF I'M GAY, HOW DO I GET SERVICES, PARTICULARLY CLINICAL SERVICES, WHEN THERE'S NOBODY IN MY COMMUNITY WHO LOOKS LIKE ME, WHO UNDERSTANDS ME?

SO, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THAT?

AND HOW DO WE BUILD OUR CAPACITY?

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH DAVID ARAGON, WHO'S AT COLORADO ACCESS, ABOUT QUITE A BIT IS, HOW DO WE BUILD A PIPELINE?

- COLORADO ACCESS IS A HEALTHCARE NETWORK THAT IS PROVIDING PRIMARY HEALTHCARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO MEMBERS IN DENVER COUNTY AND FOUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE IS RECOGNIZING THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE MINDFUL OF ISSUES RELATED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE BEST CARE THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.

BUT ULTIMATELY, TOO, IT'S ABOUT DIVERSIFYING THE WORKFORCE.

MARIA DROSTE IS A GREAT PROVIDER NETWORK THAT WORKS WITH COLORADO ACCESS.

AND THEY WORKED HARD TO IDENTIFY, WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES IN ACCESS TO CARE?

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPING A WORKFORCE THAT IS MORE RESPONSIVE TO PEOPLE FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITIES?

- AND THAT'S WHAT THE DIVERSIFYING THE WORKFORCE INITIATIVE IS TRYING TO TACKLE.

IT'S REALLY FOCUSING ON THE PIPELINE GOING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

SO, WE START AT THE LOWEST LEVELS, EARLIEST EDUCATIONAL LEVELS, TO ALLOW YOUTH TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DO HAVE POTENTIAL CAREER POSSIBILITIES.

WE ALSO PARTNER WITH UNIVERSITIES TO GET THEM THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS.

BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, A LOT OF THESE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES DO STRUGGLE IN THE UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENT.

BY THE TIME THEY GET TO US, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL HAVE THAT FULL LIVED EXPERIENCE OF SUPPORT, AND THEY'LL BE READY TO START THEIR CAREERS HELPING PEOPLE.

- DURING MY FIRST SEMESTER, MY POLICY PROFESSOR, DR.

DAWN, WAS ANOTHER INSTRUMENTAL SUPPORTER AND CHEERLEADER FOR ME.

SHE ASKED ME, "WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?

HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOU?

WHAT DO YOU NEED?"

OVER AND OVER AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER.

- SHE WAS A STUDENT WHO WAS CLEAR THAT SHE HAS A VOICE, SHE HAS POSITION, SHE BELIEVES IN SOCIAL JUSTICE.

I QUICKLY WAS ABLE TO PERSUADE HER THAT WE HAVE TO CHANGE SYSTEMS.

SO, THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN EFFECT CHANGE IS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS, BUT ALSO CHANGE THE SYSTEMS THAT THEY WORK IN.

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE PART OF WHAT MAKES YOU A REALLY GOOD CLINICIAN IS THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A STRONG ABILITY TO BUILD EMPATHY.

BUT WE KNOW FROM RESEARCH THAT THAT SAME EMPATHY, THAT SAME CAPACITY YOU HAVE TO EMPATHIZE WITH OTHERS, ACTUALLY PLACES YOU AT GREATEST RISK FOR BURNING OUT.

THEN, WHAT DO WE DO?

IF IT'S THE PERSON WE NEED HAS TO HAVE EMPATHY, BUT THEN THAT EMPATHY ITSELF CONTRIBUTES TO THEM BURNING OUT, THEN WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR SYSTEM.

ONE OF THE WAYS YOU CAN DO THAT IS OBVIOUSLY BEING SELF-AWARE, BEING ABLE TO SAY, "I AM GETTING WHAT I CALL IS CRISPY.

I'M STARTING TO BURN A LITTLE BIT."

AND THEN BE ON TEAMS WHERE THEY ALLOW YOU TO BE VULNERABLE AND THEY ALLOW YOU TO SAY, "OK, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO?"

- NOVEMBER, I HAD MY CRISPY MOMENT, AS DR.

DAWN MENTIONED, AND WASN'T SURE IF THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I WAS GOING TO PURSUE FURTHER.

AND DURING THAT TIME, I SPOKE TO MY WIFE, MINDY, AND I HAD SAID, "I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO DO THIS.

I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO CONTINUE."

AND SHE REMINDED ME, "IF YOU DECIDE TO QUIT, WHO'S GOING TO HELP SOMEBODY LIKE YOU WHO WANTS TO QUIT?"

THAT WAS MY ANSWER.

AND I THINK IT'S A METAPHOR THAT I LIVE IN COLORADO, BECAUSE I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY MOUNTAINS I'VE SUMMITTED, AND IT'S NOT EASY.

SO, WHEN SOMEBODY OF COLOR AND SOMEBODY WHO IDENTIFIES AS QUEER... MAKES THE JOURNEY ALONE, IT CAN BE DAUNTING, OVERWHELMING, AND JARRING.

SO, I WANT TO BE THEIR SUPPORTER, BE THEIR CHEERLEADER HOWEVER I CAN BE THERE TO HELP THEM.

(MUSIC PLAYING)