News Clips
Colorado Springs-area children, teens suffer mentally from pandemic pressures
March 21, 2021
By: Jakob Rodgers & Debbie Kelley
As Lexi Rowland’s schoolwork piled up and her friends down the block seemed like a plane trip away, a serious funk descended on the Discovery Canyon Campus High School senior.
Loneliness reached in, grabbed on and refused to let go — even as she realized fellow students were complaining of the same malaise.
“My mental health had definitely tanked throughout this pandemic,” said 18-year-old Rowland, who will graduate in May. “School is so overwhelming, and we don’t even get to see ...
OPINION: Mental Health, and a Nation on Edge
March 17, 2021
By Spencer Swalm, with contributions from Moe Keller
Originally appeared in the Pagosa Daily Post
In the best of times, people suffering from a mental health condition often feel like latter day lepers, wandering the world, silently crying, “Unclean! Unclean!”
But these aren’t the best of times. In an age of COVID, widespread civil unrest, and a grim economic outlook, even those among us considered “normal” are stressed. According to a recent University of Chicago report, a majority of Americans age 18 to 34-56%-report that they’ve ...
Mental health advocates propose change to responding to mental health emergencies and crisis situations
March 17, 2021
By: Kasia Kerridge
Watch the new report on KKTV 11
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - Colorado mental health advocates are proposing a change to responding to mental health emergencies or crisis situations.
Mental Health Colorado introduced the “Secure Transportation Bill” to improve mental health crisis response and reduce the burden on law enforcement.
“When you call 911 for a heart attack or a stroke, the chances are is that you’re going to get EMT response and paramedics and transportation in an appropriate vehicle to a healthcare setting. ...
One year later pandemic has fostered collaboration, innovation
March 12, 2021
By: Jeanne Davant
Originally published in The Colorado Springs Business Journal
Fernando Favela gets a COVID-19 vaccination at a pop-up clinic hosted by El Paso County Public Health. Courtesy El Paso County Public Health
Before late 2019, most Coloradans associated the word “pandemic” with disaster movies and novels.
But on March 5, 2020, the reality of the pandemic hit home as Gov. Jared Polis announced the state’s first confirmed COVID-19 case. One day later, the first case in El Paso County was reported.
The virus has wrought ...
Mental Health Advocates Introduce Bill To Support People in Recovery, Address Health Care Workforce Shortage
February 28, 2021
Article originally found in My Prime Time News
With Bipartisan Support, HB 21-1021 Seeks to Improve Peer Support Services ~
DENVER—In the past two years, the number of Coloradans who didn’t receive mental health or substance use care that they needed nearly doubled—yet, in 2019, Colorado’s behavioral health workforce only met 30% of the state’s need. Mental Health Colorado, Representative Rod Pelton (R), and Representative Yadira Caraveo (D) just introduced House Bill 21-1021 to significantly alleviate the workforce gap through peer ...
Should every Colorado kid get a mental health exam after enduring coronavirus? It won’t be easy.
February 18, 2021
By: Erica Breunlin
Originally appeared in The Colorado Sun
Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, a Commerce City Democrat, isn’t sure how to accomplish the logistics, but she thinks her idea is a matter of school safety and statewide health.
When Mark Sass has a parent-teacher conference these days, the discussion often isn’t immediately focused on grades. It’s focused on wellbeing.
“We need to lead with that mental health concern before we jump into the academics,” said Sass, a part-time social studies teacher at Legacy High School in ...
Virtual Summit Seeks to Disentangle Mental Health, Criminal Justice in Colorado
January 26, 2021
Originally posted on the Pagosa Daily Post
By Aubree Hughes
In the absence of adequate access to health services, people with unmanaged mental health needs often intersect with law enforcement and spend time in jails, then cycling in and out of detention, homelessness, and joblessness. Mental Health Colorado, the state’s leading mental health advocacy organization, will host the Colorado Counties Virtual Summit on Mental Health and Criminal Justice on Feb. 4 to identify opportunities for state policy change and to promote changing practices ...
NONPROFIT REGISTER | Mental Health Colorado to hold virtual criminal justice summit
January 25, 2021
By: Michael Karlik
Originally appeared in Colorado Politics
Mental Health Colorado
Denver, CO
News: Mental Health Colorado will host the Colorado Counties Virtual Summit on Mental Health and Criminal Justice on Feb. 4 to discuss policies that touch on law enforcement's intersection with people suffering from unmanaged mental health needs.
"Police and sheriffs feel stuck in the awkward position of being the only game in town when it comes to mental health crisis response and providing secure transportation and in-patient settings and ...
Colorado’s Shadow Epidemic: Heightened Anxiety, Depression Testing Families, Communities
January 22, 2021
By: Tina Griego & Susan Greene
Originally appeared on KSUT public radio.
The pandemic. A shaky economy. Wildfires. Polarizing politics. There's plenty to be stressed out about these days. You're not alone. Over the coming weeks, KSUT will share online stories of everyday Coloradans and how they're grappling with the blows of recent events. Read more about “On Edge,” a statewide series on the growing mental health challenges in Colorado, featuring the work of more than 100 news organizations statewide.
On Denver’s west side, an elderly ...
Mental health advocates hope to change the way people are helped while in crisis
By: Anusha Roy
January 13, 2021
Originally appeared on 9News
DENVER — With the 2021 state legislative session, some lawmakers in Colorado are hoping to revisit an idea to stop a practice mental health advocates worry treats people like criminals when they are in crisis.
Vincent Atchity, with Mental Health Colorado, said the secure transportation bill would update the way we get patients to the help they need.
Read the full article on 9News.
