Carolina De Los Rios

SENIOR Program Officer, Mental Health & Suicide Prevention

Inspiration: “Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”— Thich Nhat Hanh

What working in this community means to me: “Being a Latina immigrant woman, I have a personal appreciation of how gender, class, race and national origin intersect and impact our ability to experience health and well-being. My personal and professional experience have allowed me to be a passionate advocate for increasing access to mental health to traditionally underserved communities.”

Carolina oversees the suicide prevention lifeline program responsible for providing free and confidential suicide risk assessment, emotional support, crisis intervention and linkages to local treatment and support resources, including emergency services. The Greater Twin Cities United Way Suicide Prevention Lifeline is part of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline network, which includes more than 180 crisis centers located in communities across the country.

Carolina has over 14 years of experience overseeing social services and mental health programs for survivors of trauma in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining United Way, she was the director of social services at Ayuda and prior to that, the director of survivor services at Polaris. Carolina holds a doctorate in language, literacy and culture from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Towson University; and a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. She also holds a graduate certificate in professional counseling studies from the University of Baltimore.

Outside of work, Carolina enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga and connecting with nature.