1046 results for author: Mental Health Colorado

Aurora: Seven children in six days have attempted suicide

MAy 11, 2021 By: Deborah Takahara Full news story can be found on the KDVR website URORA, Colo. (KDVR) — There is some alarming and heartbreaking news from Aurora: Over the last six days, seven children have attempted suicide. Kids as young as 8 years old tried to end their lives. “In Aurora alone in the past six days, we’ve had seven juveniles between ages of 8 to 16 attempt suicide. That’s an alarming number. They might be feeling isolation, alienation, some may be victims of crimes. There’s a lot of helplessness and hopelessness they might be feeling right now. We want to get the message out to parents right now it’s ...

Q&A: Mental Health Colorado CEO Vincent Atchity

May 10, 2021 By: Eli Kirshbaum Originally published in State of Reform As the president and CEO of Mental Health Colorado, Vincent Atchity has firsthand experience with Colorado’s unique mental health needs. The state has repeatedly ranked among the lowest in the country for mental illness prevalence and suicide rates. Needless to say, the arrival of COVID-19 added a whole new layer to Colorado’s mental health needs. Atchity spoke with the State of Reform on Monday about the state of mental health in Colorado. What does the state need to do to address its high rate of mental illness? What are the implications of its newly approved ...

COVID In Colorado: Some ‘Kind Of Leery’ Of Being Around Large Groups Of People

March 4, 2021 By: Alan Guinet Originally reported on CBS4 DENVER (CBS4) – The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said Tuesday more than a third of Coloradans are now fully immunized against COVID19. As the state moves to vaccinate more, people protected from SARS CoV2 are trying to get used to getting back to doing things they stayed away from for over a year. Shirley Schley, 86, and 90-year-old Wick Downing had her granddaughter over for dinner over the weekend. “I haven’t seen her in months. Because it took them so long to get their shots,” said Schley. Among the fully vaccinated, the couple is thinking of ...

LT. GOVERNOR PROCLAIMS MAY AS COLORADO MENTAL HEALTH MONTH

May 4, 2021 By: Jan Wondra Originally appeared in the Ark Valley Voice In a virtual proclamation ceremony on Monday, a group of the state’s health and government officials marked the state’s commitment to programs supporting mental health; an awareness program that this year they are calling “Healthier Minds across the lifespan”. Each year, Mental Health Colorado hosts Mental Health Proclamation Day at the Capitol to declare May as Mental Health Month, with this year’s theme, following a tumultuous year of COVID-19 pandemic, focused on healing together. The group was led by Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, who read the ...

May Declared As Mental Health Month In Colorado

By: Danielle Chavira Reported on by CBS local DENVER (CBS4) – On Monday, Colorado Lieutenant Gov. Dianne Primavera helped proclaim May as Mental Health Month. She and mental health leaders in the state announced this year’s theme of Mental Health Proclamation Day is “Healing Together.” The effort recognizes how thousands of Coloradans have been through so much with COVID-19 and the economic downturn this year. Primavera says in order to heal, we must come together. “Together we can ensure a full recovery of mind body and spirit is within reach for all regardless of where they live,” she said. Anyone needing support or ...

Mental Health Colorado Seeks to Enact 988 Crisis Response Number to Combat Rising Suicide Rates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 26, 2021 Media Contact: Flora Welsh, Communications Manager 502-727-4329 Mental Health Colorado Seeks to Enact 988 Crisis Response Number to Combat Rising Suicide Rates A Bill Concerning Enacting the Federal Law Has Bi-Partisan Sponsorship DENVER—To address the growing suicide rates in the U.S., Congress passed legislation last October to approve a proposal designating 988 as the national suicide prevention crisis hotline number – much like 911. Now, it is up to Colorado to put the legislation into action. l Health Colorado and state legislative sponsors—Senators Cleave Simpson (R) and Chris Kolker (D) ...

Opinion: Mental health should be treated as a public health need

April 27, 2021 By: Chris Kolker Originally found the The Denver Post In the winter of 1982, a young red-headed boy went to his parent’s basement. He was in the depths of depression, full of self-loathing, fear, and despair when he accessed his father’s unlocked gun cabinet. After what seemed like an eternity, he put back the weapon in which he sought escape. Later that night, as his mother kissed him good night, he told her what he had done. She was incredulous or seemed so at the moment. Stigma and unavailable resources limited her options to help. However, she made sure the cabinet was locked that night and every night since. She ...

Colorado bill would give children free mental health screenings, therapy sessions

April 21, 2021 By: Mayo Davison This news report originally appeared on KOAA SOUTHERN COLORADO — After a difficult school year for children across Colorado, state lawmakers are working to provide free mental health screenings and therapy to help them rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. House Bill 21-1258 would require the state to create a temporary youth mental health services program in the office of behavioral health within the department of human services by May 31. The program would allow up to three free mental health sessions for every Coloradan age 18 and younger and providers would be reimbursed through the program. For many ...

Colorado committee approves bill to allocate $9 million to youth mental health

April 21, 2021 By: Eli Kirshbaum Article originally found in the State Of Reform. The Colorado House Public and Behavioral Health Committee today voted to advance Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet’s bill to allocate $9 million from federal stimulus funds to support the mental health needs of Colorado youth. The “Rapid Mental Health Response for Colorado Youth” bill would create a temporary youth mental health services program within the state’s office of behavioral health to administer the program. Michaelson Jenet introduced her bill to the committee: “What this bill does, in essence, is give every school-aged child in Colorado the ...

HB21-1258 Testimony: April 20, 2021

The following testimony was presented to the House Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee on April 20, 2021. House Bill 21-1258, a children's mental health bill, passed on a vote of 11-1. Read more about the bill here. Vincent Atchity, President & CEO of Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill on behalf of the organization.  "Good afternoon, Members of the Committee. I’m Vincent Atchity, President and CEO of Mental Health Colorado. Mental Health Colorado is a non-profit organization working to achieve healthier minds across the lifespan for all Coloradans. Since 1953, we have represented consumer ...