LCDR Rodriguez demonstrates exemplary leadership in addressing health disparities and advancing health equity among minority women in her community. She serves as a coach and founder of the Depression Support and Alliance Group (DSAG), which created a needed space for connecting uninsured and vulnerable minority women to mental health services in a safe area at no cost. DSAG educates participants about how to identify and deal with depression and anxiety, mental techniques to thrive, and affordable treatment options. In 2022, participants experienced an average ten-point reduction in depressive symptoms, and all reported via survey evaluation that the group was “very helpful” and created a safe and consistent space for them weekly.

To spread community awareness of DSAG, she partnered with local mental health facilities and focused on depression and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) sessions. She partnered with a psychiatric hospital where she coached staff and patients via CBT sessions and psychological first-aid training. Participants ranged from ten to fifteen in these weekly group sessions for six months. She also partnered with three Women’s Shelters and provided education on-site due to safety concerns related to coping strategies for depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. These women are uninsured, low-income, in addiction recovery, and/or healing from domestic violence situations. Patients with severe mental illness and victims of abuse often do not have a familiar resource to use once they are discharged from a facility. DSAG provided them an opportunity to stay connected and informed in their community.