Name and Position at Region Ten: Chris Cochran, Student Assistant Program Specialist at Monticello High School.
Where are you from? Born in Richmond, quickly relocated to Buckingham where I was raised throughout adolescence. I Moved back to Richmond for my undergraduate studies at VCU, then to Houston for a short stint. I settled in Charlottesville in 2016 and have been here ever since.
What drew you to the mental health field? I think it’s been something natural for me to want to help others. My mom was that mother who had double-digit god-siblings, and my brother and I watched her care for them as if they were her own. She also fostered multiple children while we were growing up that had a number of challenges, so my love for helping others is organic in my eyes. I’ll say my mom’s interactions influenced me a lot.
Also, there’s a negative stigma about mental health, more so witnessed in the minority communities that are gradually being broken. I didn’t grow up seeing a lot of people who looked like me sharing a lot of good energy, promoting wellness, positive eating habits, etc. Knowing that mental and physical health are directly correlated, I wanted to learn and be able to share more in hopes of breaking barriers in my family and community, especially for those who looked like me.
What are some of the highlights in your professional career? I’ve worked in various settings within the mental health realm to include being a Residential Counselor, Child and Family Case Manager and Student Assistant Specialist (SAP). In all of my professional experiences, I have been blessed to assist and support children and adolescents. Throughout my six-year career, a few of my favorite highlights are:
- The relationships that I’ve developed with students but also with parents and coworkers. There’s not much that can replace the value of meaningful relationships and I’ve been able to develop and maintain a lot within my professional career. Invaluable!
- Every promotion I’ve received, because that lets me know that my superiors are willing to take a risk by giving me more responsibility. I don’t take those opportunities for granted.
- Completing my Master’s in Counseling in 2018. My last two semesters were very trying and full of adversity that required extreme sacrifice and ultimate dedication. I’m thankful I had the support I needed to push through and finish strong!
- Throughout all of my experiences, my favorite highlight would have to be assisting, supporting and watching my students make significant progress and achieve their goals they’ve set out to accomplish. Being a part of their journey is the reason why I do the work and show up daily.
What do you enjoy about your work at Region Ten? Where do I start? There’s a lot to love about the work being done daily. For me, the most significant piece is being a part of the positive change for our children in our community. Knowing that I’m able to contribute, even if it’s just a little, and have a positive impact on their lives is always my goal. It’s draining work sometimes, but undeniably rewarding and needed.
What does Mental Health Awareness Month mean to you? It means we get another chance to highlight some of the things most of us know already that promote wellness within our bodies and mind. Helping and encouraging all to prioritize time for ourselves, reminding ourselves of healthy eating habits, and most importantly breaking the stigma that’s associated with mental health by having conversations about things we all struggle with is what Mental Health Awareness Month means most to me. So often we struggle without seeking or asking for help. MHAM is about getting the help that is needed and not being judged for it so we can start feeling better and doing better.