News Clips
Summit County could be leader in fight against mental illness, says president of Mental Health Colorado
By Jack Queen
Last year, a record 13 people died of suicide in Summit County, which translates to a rate three times higher than the national average.
That disturbing reality has caught the attention of local officials and advocacy groups, who are working to improve access to care and change the way people think about mental illness.
That energy has contributed to some tangible results, including a recent announcement by the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health that a crisis-stabilization unit will soon be coming to Summit County.
Last week, the OBH came to Frisco as ...
National suicide prevention week highlights growing suicide rate
By Nicole Brady
DENVER -- September 10th through 16th marks National Suicide Prevention Week. Colorado has one of the highest rates of suicide in the nation, averaging about three deaths from suicide every day.
Mental Health Colorado President and CEO Andrew Romanoff lost his cousin to suicide in 2015. Since then he has made it his mission to spare other families the anguish his family has experienced.
"What gets me up in the morning the notion that we don’t have to accept the status quo--we can do something. In fact, we could make Colorado a national leader in the ...
It’s National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
KUSA - Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. According to government data, Colorado continuously has among the highest suicide rates in the county trailing Montana, Alaska, New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho.
This video originally appeared on 9News.
Suicide prevention experts focus on talking about suicide
DENVER (CBS4)– Colorado is ranked 9th in the U.S. for suicides, that’s about 20 suicides for every 100,000 people.
CBS4’s Alan Gionet interviewed Mental Health Colorado President and CEO Andrew Romanoff on CBS4 This Morning to discuss suicide prevention.
When asked about the rising rate of suicide, Romanoff replied, “Easy access to firearms, stigma, some folks attribute the “Western mentality” of pull yourself up by your bootstraps, don’t get help. And the truth is half a million Coloradans aren’t getting the mental health care they need and ...
Why is Colorado’s suicide rate so high?
KUSA - Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S.
And according to government data, Colorado continuously has one of the highest suicide rates in the country, trailing Montana, Alaska, New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho.
Andrew Romanoff with Mental Health Colorado and Maureen Johnson Ediger with the Second Wind Fund joined us on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
They answered questions about Colorado’s high suicide rate, what’s being done about it and what to do if you see a loved one struggling with suicidal thoughts.
If you need help, call the ...
Colorado DHS agrees to Pueblo meeting about CMHIP
From the FULL COVERAGE: CMHIP in crisis series
BY PETER ROPER THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN PROPER@CHIEFTAIN.COM
Top state officials responsible for the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo will have a town hall meeting in Pueblo next month to discuss the chronic staffing problems at the hospital.
Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne and state Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, said they had each gotten the commitment for an October meeting from Reggie Bicha, director of the Colorado Department of Human Services.
Bicha and other DHS administrators had a series of public meetings around ...
Mental Health Colorado addresses crisis at mental hospital, state needs
BY NAT STEIN
The Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo (CMHIP) treats pretty challenging patients — some referred from community health centers and some referred from the court system (if they're found "not guilty by reason of insanity" or their competency to stand trial is questioned, as in the case of Robert Dear Jr., the admitted Planned Parenthood shooter, who's currently committed to CMHIP). But the 449-bed, state-run hospital needs some help of its own.
The Pueblo Chieftain's Peter Roper has been following this protracted story that took a dire turn ...
Nonprofit addresses mental health workforce shortage
By Adam Uhernik
PUEBLO, Colo. (KKTV) - The nonprofit Mental Health Colorado recently brought health care leaders around one table in Pueblo to brainstorm ideas on how to close the mental health workforce shortage and gap.
"There aren't enough people going into the field of providing mental healthcare and there is not enough people staying in that field. We are trying to find out how to close that gap," said president and CEO of Mental Health Colorado, Andrew Romanoff.
The issue came to the public's attention during the summer when the State Hospital in ...
Mental Health Colorado offers help for kids and teens going back to school
COLORADO SPRINGS - by Bill Fulsom
Along with new clothes and supplies there is a suggestion for parents to pay attention to their kids mental health as they head back to school. The non-profit group Mental Health Colorado is offering some on-line help. Through MentalHealthColorado.org there are a few tools for parents to check on their kids mental wellness.
There is a section called screening. Within the category there is a list of numerous potential mental illness issues. Each one links to a short doctor approved screening test. It is not a diagnosis but it may ...
