STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Looking for a way you can help promote mental well-being in the Wood River Valley?

The Mental Well-Being Initiative is launching the Blaine County Well-being Ambassadors Program to strengthen social connection for youth and adults.

The free program is open to all. Interested volunteers must attend one of two introductory onboarding sessions to learn how to carry the work forward.

A virtual English Onboarding session will be provided at 5:30 p.m. tonight—Monday Nov. 17. RSVP at https://bit.ly/Well-BeingAmbassador.

An in-person Spanish Onboarding session will be provided at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, at Hailey Town Center West. RSVP at https://forms.gle/MJX724RWV2LMWxRE9.

Well-Being Ambassadors will organize small gatherings, share local well-being resources and encourage conversations about mental health and prevention.

Volunteer Ambassadors will meet every other month to share insights and take on small challenges designed to ripple positive change through their own circles. Participation is flexible, allowing each Ambassador to contribute in ways that fit their own interests and capacity.

“Creating this team of connectors is one way we’re responding to a need for stronger relationships and easier access to resources. If we want to improve mental well-being on a population level, everyone in the community needs to help weave connections into the fabric of daily life,” said Jenna Vagias, executive director of the Mental Well-Being Initiative.

According to the 2023 Blaine County Youth Well-Being Survey, nearly one in three teens reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless, and many said they lacked a trusted adult to turn to when struggling.

“Connection to peers, family and community is one of the most powerful protective factors against depression, anxiety and suicide,” said Sarah Seppa, director of St. Luke’s Center for Community Health. “Adults are also experiencing disconnection--recent behavioral health data shows that three of 10 adults in Blaine County feel isolated or lack companionship, with higher rates among younger adults, lower-income residents, Hispanic community members and those who identify as LGBTQ+.”

Various organizations are taking steps to promote connectedness. The Spur Community Foundation, for instance, held a panel discussion this past week examining how individuals and communities thrive through participation in clubs and volunteer endeavors. And the Blaine County Democrats held a Community Café last week offering Wood River Valley residents a chance to come together.

Matt Leidecker has organized one of his periodic community get-together with the objective of promoting community connectivity among adults and youth from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20. That’s when the Sage School hosts a Community Harvest Dinner with a variety of activities, including lantern making and pumpkin chucking.

See today’s Eye on Sun Valley story for more information.