News Clips
Mental Health Colorado gets new CEO
By: Sentinel Staff
July 27, 2019
Mental Health Colorado selected Vincent Atchity as the nonprofit's new president and CEO, the organization announced Thursday.
Atchity previously served as executive director of the Equitas Project, a nonprofit that worked with the mental health and criminal justice systems.
Mental Health Colorado started in 1953 and works to advance treatment for mental health services across the state.
"Every Coloradan has a role to play in supporting improved mental health," Atchity said in a press release. "There can ...
Atchity replaces Romanoff as the head of Mental Health Colorado
July 25, 2019
Mental Health Colorado has a new leader, now that Andrew Romanoff is running for U.S. Senate.
The non-partisan advocacy nonprofit named Vincent Atchity its permanent president and CEO Thursday.
Nancy VanDeMark led the 65-year-old organization on an interim basis since Romanoff, the former speaker of the Colorado House, stepped down late last year after four years. VanDeMark is the former director of the Office of Behavioral Health at the Colorado Department of Human Services.
Atchity has been the executive director of The Equitas Project, which ...
What more can be done to stop cyberbullying?
By: Joe St. George
July 23, 2019
DENVER -- Cyberbullying is a story the Problem Solvers have covered for years.
From suicides in schools to recent harassment of Shanann Watts' family, the question is: what more can be done?
That was a topic during the first-ever National Mental Health Summit at East High School Tuesday.
In attendance was Rick Padilla, who lost his son Jack to suicide earlier this year. Jack was a student at Cherry Creek High School.
Padilla says he believes technology companies can offer some solutions. He is working with companies on ...
Why experts say it’s important to talk to your kids about suicide
By: Jordan Chavez
July 22, 2019
DENVER — Another high school in Colorado is dealing with the loss left by suicide.
Grandview High School in Aurora notified parents this weekend a senior took her own life. Her death comes less than two weeks after a former student who graduated just last year also ended her life. The school's principal urged parents in a letter to have conversations with their kids.
Sarah Davidon, the research director and child and adolescent strategy director at Mental Health Colorado shared her expertise on how parents can talk to their ...
Leadership Interview: Nancy VanDeMark, Ph.D., Interim President and CEO Mental Health Colorado
July 8, 2019
Nancy VanDeMark has worked in the mental health and substance use field for more than 30 years, most recently as director of the Office of Behavioral Health in the Colorado Department of Human Services. She previously worked as a consultant, an executive-level administrator of a substance use treatment organization and a research director. Her work has focused on improving mental health and substance use services for individuals with the most complicated needs.
Ascent: You've been working to improve mental health and substance use services for individ...
Months Before Controversial Gun Law Takes Effect, Colorado Sheriffs Continue To Resist
By: Leigh Paterson
July 2, 2019
On a chilly Friday night in Windsor, Colorado, the conservative, gun-loving rocker Ted Nugent entertained a crowd, talking about the Constitution, politics and freedom during a fundraising event for Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams.
“Well, well, well. What have we here? This must be real Colorado!” Nugent said to the crowd. “When I started coming here rockin’ and rollin’ in 1967… Boy, I was in Colorado, man! Ranching, rugged, individual-tough-s***-kicker Colorado! Now it’s like drooling hippie Boulder! What happened ...
Unmasked: A Masquerade Party Benefiting Mental Health Colorado
By: Terri Wiebold
July 1, 2019
To unmask something is to expose the true character of it or to reveal the hidden truth behind it. On June 22, the City of Castle Pines, in partnership with Mental Health Colorado, held its annual fundraiser, Unmasked: A Masquerade Party.
The evening, generously hosted by John and Angela Schmidt at Haven in the Pines, opened with three unnamed, masked individuals sharing the intimate details of their very personal struggles with mental health. The accounts were emotional and inspiring and culminated with the courageous unmasking and ...
Getting serious about mental health: Colorado Legislature passed nearly 30 bills in past two years
By: John Spina
June 22, 2019
Boulder County boasts one of highest ratios of mental health care providers to population in the country, but many residents still struggle to get help, as they do statewide. .
According to Mental Health Colorado, more than 1 million Coloradans experience mental health or substance use disorders each year, yet half of them — and 1 in 6 Medicaid recipients — don’t get the mental health and substance use services they need, causing suicide to be the No. 1 cause of death for Coloradans age 10 to 24.
“Colorado has always been a ...
Mental wellness and addiction recovery resource guide available
By: Mark Techmeyer
June 20, 2019
Representatives from the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and the nonprofit advocacy group Mental Health Colorado recently announced the launch of the Mental Wellness and Addiction Recovery Guide.
Full story is available only in print edition of the Pagosa Springs SUN. Check out their website to subscribe to their paper.
