Healthier Minds Across the Lifespan
Mental Health Colorado is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to pass laws, change practices, and build a movement—to promote healthier minds across the lifespan for all Coloradans.
Changing Practices
We disentangle mental health and criminal justice, build mental health support for schools, promote well-being in the workplace, and improve access to care.
Our Goals
We envision a Colorado where mental health is valued, supported, and protected at every stage of life. By promoting healthy minds, advancing prevention, expanding access to care, strengthening families, and ending health-based discrimination, we work toward a future where everyone has the resources and opportunities to thrive.
Strong Start For Children
We develop brains and behaviors at a rapid pace, not fully maturing until as late as our mid-20s. Preventative care and healthy learning environments are central to ensuring healthy minds and bright futures.
Support For Families
Strong, healthy families – created networks of supportive partnerships – are vitally important to strong, healthy individuals. Education, childcare, stable housing, meaningful employment, and access to health care are all essential to family well-being.
Access To Housing, Supports, and Services
Having a place to call home is an essential element of good health across the lifespan. Access to supports and services prolongs life and enhances health outcomes.
Check out our Access to Housing, Support and Services resources.
Access to Housing |
Access to Support and Services
Wellness In Aging
From childhood to old age, the quality of our lives depends on our health of mind. Every phase of life brings its own challenges and opportunities for continuing growth and development.
Reduced Potential Harm From Alcohol And Drugs
Drugs and alcohol have been a part of human experience throughout history. From childhood onward, we thrive if we can reap their benefits while reducing their potential for great harm.
Decriminalize Health Conditions
Too often, law enforcement is our first and only response to people’s need for mental health and substance use care. Disentangling mental health and criminal justice improves health outcomes, saves taxpayer dollars, and enhances community well-being.
End Health-Based Discrimination
Mental health—like physical health—is part of who we are. We need to be active in supporting the soundness of our minds and bodies and increasingly understanding and compassionate with ourselves and others.
Take Action With Us
Help change mental health in Colorado. Your support is vital, and every action powers our work and creates a healthier future for all.
Donate
Donations to Mental Health Colorado help pass laws, change practices and build a movement to promote healthier minds across the lifespan for all Coloradans
Join Brain Wave
Join nearly 2,000 Coloradans who are turning their experience into action. Sign up to become part of the Brain Wave today. Your voice is our most powerful tool for change.
Intern With Us
Gain real-world policy, communications, and nonprofit experience while helping to build a healthier future for all Coloradans.
Volunteer With Us
Join a powerful movement of advocates passing laws, changing practices, and building a healthier future for all Coloradans.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Our work to promote healthier minds across the lifespan gains strength through your sponsorship support.
Share Your Story
Sharing your experience helps end health-based discrimination, inspire hope, and show others they are not alone.
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Receive updates on advocacy, resources, and opportunities to take action for mental health in our state.
Legislation We Supported in 2025
During the 2025 legislative session, we passed key legislation to promote the health and well-being of our communities. That includes bipartisan policies to disentangle mental health from criminal justice, expand access to health services for people on Medicaid, and improve care for people with eating disorders. This year, 69 lawmakers received perfect scores on our legislative scorecard. Thanks to this demonstrated commitment from our elected officials, we’re hopeful for a future where each Coloradan has the chance at a happy, healthy life.
Latest News
Press Release | February 17, 2026
Mental Health Colorado Leads on Youth Support, Access to Care This Legislative Session
State’s Leading Mental Health Advocacy Organization Also Urges Bipartisan Leadership and Positive Civil Discourse
Denver, CO —Today, Mental Health Colorado announce…
News Clip | February 16, 2026
Former Broncos Running Back Pushing for More Mental Health Support for Athletes
Ball is now lobbying for a bill being discussed at the Colorado State Capitol that would require youth coaches to take an annual mental health education course and to discuss with parents the relatio…
Press Release | February 5, 2026
New Colorado Bill Introduced to Strengthen Mental Health Protections for Youth Athletes
SB26-060 would ensure youth sports coaches get mental health training, inform parents of mental health risks following concussion
Denver, CO — Legislation introduced by Colorado lawmakers on Wednesda…
News Clip | December 23, 2025
Opinion: Colorado Must Invest in Evidence-Based Policies to Prevent Harm From Substances, Not Costly Criminalization
A recent Brookings study found that nearly 90% of treatment for opioid addiction is paid for, at least in part, by Medicaid. These cuts will leave our already strained systems unable to meet the grow…
News Clip | November 29, 2025
Congress Must Extend ACA Tax Credits — Our Mental Health Depends On It
With the government shutdown finally over, thousands of Coloradans living with mental health conditions are still bracing for the worst as Congress edges closer to letting their health insurance prem…
News Clip | November 15, 2025
2025 Most Admired CEO Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the Denver Business Journal’s 2025 Most Admired CEO awards. Learn more about their journeys below.
News Clip | October 1, 2025
New Report: Colorado Remains in Mental Health Crisis
Vincent Atchity, president and CEO at Denver-based Mental Health Colorado, one of 140 affiliates of Mental Health America, which produces the annual analysis, isn’t surprised.
Colorado has hovered ne…
News Clip | July 7, 2025
Safer Housing Program in Arapahoe County Shutting Down Due to Funding Shortage
A housing program in Arapahoe County that helped Coloradans rebuild their lives is shutting down this month, leaving participants with 11 days to find a new place to go.
Mental Health Colorado announ…
News Clip | July 2, 2025
The ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Is Ugly for Coloradans’ Health
In Colorado, we pride ourselves on working across the aisle when the well-being of our communities is on the line. As current and former county commissioners—one Republican and one Democrat—we don’t…
News Clip | June 8, 2025
Colorado’s New Behavioral Health Administration Is Ready to Invest. Now Budget Cuts Are on the Way.
Most people haven’t seen the BHA make a direct impact in their lives at this point, so lawmakers may see it as an easy target for cuts next year, said Vincent Atchity, president and CEO of Mental Hea…
News Clip | May 27, 2025
Medicaid As a Lifeline for Mental Health in Rural Colorado. We Can’t Afford to Lose It.
Colorado’s small towns and rural communities are in the midst of a mental health and substance use crisis, and Medicaid is a critical lifeline for those who might not otherwise have access to the men…
News Clip | April 18, 2025
The Right Approach to Protect Our Kids from the Overdose Crisis
Colorado ranks among the five worst states in the nation for youth with substance use disorder, according to Mental Health America’s 2024 state rankings report. We’re failing our kids when it comes t…
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Upcoming Events
Summit | May 07, 2026
2026 Course Corrections Summit
Course Corrections is Mental Health Colorado’s initiative to disentangle mental health and criminal justice. The 2026 Course Corrections Summit convenes advocates, policymakers, and community leaders to advance solutions that reduce reliance on the criminal justice system and expand access to health care.
Webinar | April 24, 2026
2026 Legislative Lunch Break 7
Stay connected to what’s happening at the Colorado State Capitol and learn how you can take action for healthier minds across the lifespan. Join Mental Health Colorado’s bi-weekly Legislative Lunch Break webinar series.
Webinar | April 10, 2026
2026 Legislative Lunch Break 6
Stay connected to what’s happening at the Colorado State Capitol and learn how you can take action for healthier minds across the lifespan. Join Mental Health Colorado’s bi-weekly Legislative Lunch Break webinar series.
Webinar | March 27, 2026
2026 Legislative Lunch Break 5
Stay connected to what’s happening at the Colorado State Capitol and learn how you can take action for healthier minds across the lifespan. Join Mental Health Colorado’s bi-weekly Legislative Lunch Break webinar series.
Webinar | March 13, 2026
2026 Legislative Lunch Break 4
Stay connected to what’s happening at the Colorado State Capitol and learn how you can take action for healthier minds across the lifespan. Join Mental Health Colorado’s bi-weekly Legislative Lunch Break webinar series.
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Stories of Hope & Recovery
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