STATEWIDE DRIVE TO PUT MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES INTO COLORADO SCHOOLS

May 15, 2018

Children are more likely to seek help if mental health support is available at school. Mental Health Colorado has created a School Toolkit, essentially the ABCs for getting students the mental health care every child deserves.

The toolkit is a guide for schools, districts, interested parents — anyone who wants kids to get the mental health attention they deserve. This includes everything from help with implementing mental health screenings, suicide prevention, wellness plans that could include school counselors and more.

“The first signs of mental illness typically appear during adolescence, but most people don’t get the care they need until eight or 10 years later – if they ever get it at all,” says Andrew Romanoff, Mental Health Colorado President and CEO. “That’s a gap we have to close. If we’re serious about making Colorado a national leader in mental health care, schools are a good place to start.”

Research shows that addressing mental health in schools leads to improved school climate, academic outcomes and student wellness.

Mental Health Colorado is the state’s leading advocate for the prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. One million Coloradans deal with a mental health disorder each year. We believe every Coloradan deserves quality mental health and substance use care.

To download the free toolkit or learn more about it, go to this website.

Article originally appeared in Pagosa Daily Post.