1041 results for author: Mental Health Colorado

PTSD, Psychosis, Work Health Screenings

PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of a traumatic event. A traumatic event is a life-threatening event such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault in adult or childhood. (National Center for PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. What is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)) PTSD is a real problem and can happen at any age.  If you have PTSD, you are not alone.  It affects over 8.5 million American adults (3.5% of the adult population) in any given year. ...

Youth, Bipolar, Parent Screenings

Adolescent  When we think about cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, we don’t wait years to treat them. We start way before Stage 4. We begin with prevention. And when people are in the first stage of those diseases, and have a persistent cough, high blood pressure, or high blood sugar, we try immediately to reverse these symptoms. This is what we should be doing when people have serious mental illnesses, too. When they first begin to experience symptoms such as loss of sleep, feeling tired for no reason, feeling low, feeling anxious, or hearing voices, we should act. Youth Screening: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/mental-health-screen...

Conversation with Colorado kickoff

What stops Coloradans from getting the mental health care they need? We’ve embarked on a statewide listening tour to find out. We held our first “Conversation with Colorado” in Pueblo on March 30. The event drew a standing-room-only crowd of 70 providers, family members, and people who had experienced mental health or substance use disorders. Among our findings: 1)Most participants said they were either not satisfied (59%) or only somewhat satisfied (34%) with the mental health services in their community. 2)The cost of treatment ranked (at 21%) as the single biggest barrier to mental health care, followed closely by “concern about ...

Conversation with Colorado kickoff in Pueblo

Mental Health Colorado started its listening tour across Colorado in Pueblo. Families dealing with mental health issues, doctors, other providers, law enforcement and local officials turned out for the conversation. They talked about barriers and things working when getting mental health care in southeast Colorado. KOAA/NBC Colorado Springs TV/online coverage

Journeys that lead mental health advocates to the cause

Those willing to speak publicly and advocate passionately for mental health often have personal journeys that lead them to that place. Linda Rinehart is a powerful example. After being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder at the age of 24, Linda faced an uncertain future. Forced into medical retirement when many of us are taking our careers to the next level, she entered a very dark time of depression. Eventually, Linda accepted her diagnosis and turned a life-saving corner – not just for herself, but for so many others who find hope and inspiration through her journey, her incredible strength, and her decision to use her personal ...

Anthony, Seth, Matthew, Aaron, and Daniel: Climbing out of the darkness

The views and opinions expressed in following story are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Mental Health Colorado. It began with a simple vision. Anthony Reinert, an avid climber who had been attending Fort Lewis College in Durango, was looking for a way to bridge his passion for the outdoors with his desire to advocate for the cause of mental health. After talking with friends and family about assembling a hiking team united behind that purpose, he found four young mountaineers who were intrigued by the idea: Seth Pooler, Matthew Cranston, Aaron McDowell, and Daniel Frauenhoff. And the 2015 Climb Out of ...

Brianna: Learning to express myself

The views and opinions expressed in following story are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Mental Health Colorado. When Brianna, a middle school student, was having some difficulties at her school, she came across a weekly group through Check Your Head, a school-based program offered by Mental Health Colorado. Through Check Your Head’s student-centered approach – which helps young people identify and communicate their mental health needs and explore issues like self-identity and conflict resolution – Brianna was able to find a supportive environment where she could talk to girls her own age about her ...

Linda: Ardently advocating for mental health

The views and opinions expressed in following story are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Mental Health Colorado. First diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 1984 – at the age of 24 – Linda saw her life change dramatically when she was forced into medical retirement, after her mental health disorder began to interfere significantly with her ability to maintain a successful corporate career. After two dark years in a deep depression, and an attempt to take her own life, she finally began to accept her condition and found a renewed life purpose by speaking out with her own story of recovery. Today, ...

Mental health champions from across Colorado come together for Legislative Education & Advocacy Day

If advocating for a brighter future for mental health is ultimately left to younger generations, then a group of local high school students has demonstrated that we are in good hands. Students from Green Mountain High School and Highlands Ranch High School joined roughly 200 advocates from across the state for Mental Health Colorado’s 2016 Legislative Education & Advocacy Day. Check out this 9NEWS report about the event, which includes an interview with one of the students. As the leading advocate for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders, Mental Health Colorado helped attendees explore the ...

High school students honored for mental health work

It's something that hits you really hard and kind of blind-sides you and you don't really understand what's happening until it's almost too late. . . 9NEWS, Thursday, March 3, 2016