Steven Woodrow

Colorado boasts more days of sunshine per year than any other city. Despite the mental health benefits of sunshine, one in eight Denverites are depressed at any given time. Three out of ten children in Denver’s middle and high schools feel sad and hopeless.  Over 70 percent of people experiencing depression in the mile high city are not receiving any treatment. We have seen the consequences of severe mental health support in the increasing numbers of suicide and addiction.  In 2018, Denver residents spoke loud and clear by overwhelmingly passing Caring 4 Denver, funding a whole suite of mental health services, facilities, suicide prevention, opioid and substance use prevention, first-responder training, to name a few.  In the years to come as we deal with subsequent waves of COVID-19 our need for mental health support will grow.