1041 results for author: Mental Health Colorado

An exciting announcement

July 25, 2019 Friends of Mental Health Colorado: I am pleased to share the news that Vincent Atchity has been named Mental Health Colorado’s president & CEO. Atchity will provide strategic leadership to help Mental Health Colorado achieve its mission of promoting mental wellness, ending stigma, and ensuring equitable access to mental health and substance use services. As an accomplished, collaborative leader in public health, Atchity’s multi-industry expertise will leverage a statewide network of partners in advocacy, health care, government, education, public safety, and the justice system to drive systemic transformation to ...

Attorney General Phil Weiser

Phil Weiser is the 39th Attorney General of Colorado. As the state’s chief legal officer, Weiser is committed to protecting the people of Colorado and building a law office that will serve all Coloradans effectively. Previously, Weiser served as a Professor of Law and Dean of the University of Colorado Law School, where he founded the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship. Weiser held senior leadership positions in the Obama administration, appointed to serve as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the U.S. Department of Justice and as Senior Advisor for Technology and Innovation at the White House’s National ...

Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg

Kate Greenberg was appointed to serve as Colorado’s Commissioner of Agriculture by Governor Jared Polis in December 2018. She leads a staff of 300 employees across the department’s eight divisions of Animal Health, Brand Inspection, Colorado State Fair, Conservation Services, Inspection and Consumer Services, Laboratory Services, Markets and Plant Industry. As Commissioner, Greenberg’s key initiatives are to support and grow the next generation of Colorado’s agriculture producers, increase high value food and market opportunities, incentivize soil, water and climate stewardship and enhance mental health awareness and services in the ...

Denver District Attorney Beth McCann

Beth McCann was elected District Attorney of Denver in November 2016 and was sworn into office on January 10, 2017.  She is the first female District Attorney in Denver’s history. Beth brings extensive prosecutorial, legal, and managerial experience, proven leadership, and community perspective to the Denver DA’s office. Immediately prior to becoming District Attorney, Beth was the four-term state representative for House District 8 in central and northeast Denver. She was a leader in criminal justice matters and health care reform throughout her legislative career. Ms. McCann’s career includes time in the Denver DA’s office, private ...

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 algorithms and software to alert parents if an inappropriate post is made. "...

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 kids about suicide. You can watch their full conversation in the video below: ...

The depth of your identity

  July 9, 2019 Research shows that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color receive lower quality mental health treatment, have less access to care, and face greater exposure to health stressors because of social, economic, and environmental inequities. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender youth report twice the prevalence of bullying. And last year, nearly half of all lesbian, gay, or bisexual youth in Colorado seriously considered suicide—more than triple the rate among heterosexual students. As we gear up for the 2020 legislative session, we’re looking ahead with a focus on equity, so that everyone—regardless of who you are ...

Health inequities among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color

Understanding Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health in Late Life: A Research Agenda (NCBI) US Socioeconomic and Racial Differences in Health: Patterns and Explanations The Environment That Racism Built

Sexual orientation and gender identity data

LGB youth have even HIGHER rates of suicide risk; 46% considered suicide; 25% attempted suicide (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 2018.Healthy Kids Colorado Survey) Healthy Kids Colorado Executive Summary Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Overview of 2017 Data (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Healthy Kids Colorado Survey)

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 individuals for your entire career—in government, the private sector and academia. What ...