News Clips
Months Before Controversial Gun Law Takes Effect, Colorado Sheriffs Continue To Resist
By: Leigh Paterson
July 2, 2019
On a chilly Friday night in Windsor, Colorado, the conservative, gun-loving rocker Ted Nugent entertained a crowd, talking about the Constitution, politics and freedom during a fundraising event for Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams.
“Well, well, well. What have we here? This must be real Colorado!” Nugent said to the crowd. “When I started coming here rockin’ and rollin’ in 1967… Boy, I was in Colorado, man! Ranching, rugged, individual-tough-s***-kicker Colorado! Now it’s like drooling hippie Boulder! What happened ...
Unmasked: A Masquerade Party Benefiting Mental Health Colorado
By: Terri Wiebold
July 1, 2019
To unmask something is to expose the true character of it or to reveal the hidden truth behind it. On June 22, the City of Castle Pines, in partnership with Mental Health Colorado, held its annual fundraiser, Unmasked: A Masquerade Party.
The evening, generously hosted by John and Angela Schmidt at Haven in the Pines, opened with three unnamed, masked individuals sharing the intimate details of their very personal struggles with mental health. The accounts were emotional and inspiring and culminated with the courageous unmasking and ...
Getting serious about mental health: Colorado Legislature passed nearly 30 bills in past two years
By: John Spina
June 22, 2019
Boulder County boasts one of highest ratios of mental health care providers to population in the country, but many residents still struggle to get help, as they do statewide. .
According to Mental Health Colorado, more than 1 million Coloradans experience mental health or substance use disorders each year, yet half of them — and 1 in 6 Medicaid recipients — don’t get the mental health and substance use services they need, causing suicide to be the No. 1 cause of death for Coloradans age 10 to 24.
“Colorado has always been a ...
Mental wellness and addiction recovery resource guide available
By: Mark Techmeyer
June 20, 2019
Representatives from the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and the nonprofit advocacy group Mental Health Colorado recently announced the launch of the Mental Wellness and Addiction Recovery Guide.
Full story is available only in print edition of the Pagosa Springs SUN. Check out their website to subscribe to their paper.
Where to start when seeking treatment for a mental health or substance use disorder
By Nancy VanDeMark – Interim President and CEO, Mental Health Colorado
May 1, 2019
One million Coloradans face a mental health or substance use disorder each year, and only half get the treatment they need. For example, depression causes people to miss work more than any other chronic health condition, according to the World Health Organization. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Mental health and substance use disorders are treatable, and treatment is key to a full and meaningful life. Mental Health Colorado has ...
For Our Spanish Speakers: Mujeres de C.O.L.O.R. con Miriam Estrada
Mujeres de COLOR con Miriam Estrada investigadora asociada de la organización para la Salud Mental de Colorado, hablando sobre la salud mental en la comunidad Latinx.
Gov. Polis visits Pueblo, Colorado Springs to sign bills into law
By: Alasyn Zimmerman
May 14, 2019
PUEBLO- With the legislative session over, Governor Jared Polis is signing bills into law.
On Tuesday, the Governor made his way to southern Colorado: making stops in Pueblo and Colorado Springs.
Among the bills Polis made law included bills to expand a medication-assisted opioid treatment program currently in Pueblo and Routt counties.
The bill was Senate President Leroy Garcia’s top priority this session.
The expansion will add programs in the San Luis Valley.
Polis also signed a bill that creates a tracking ...
Opinion: To prevent child maltreatment, we must strengthen families. Let’s start with House Bill 1193.
By: Jade Woodard and Nancy VanDeMark
April 21, 2019
More than 250 people came together at the Capitol earlier this month to draw attention to the need to strengthen families — a time-honored tradition among advocates during National Child Abuse Prevention Month in Colorado.
It is a time to recognize that we all play a role in improving the lives of children, youth and families.
Link to full story here.
Originally appeared on The Colorado Sun.
Suicide of Sol Pais — Florida teen seen as threat to Denver-area schools — highlights mental health, mass tragedies
By: Jessica Seaman
April 19, 2019
When Sol Pais traveled to Denver on Monday and bought a gun, it triggered a daylong search before she was found dead of a suspected suicide — an ending that has brought mental health and mass tragedies back into the spotlight on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting.
There’s still a lot unknown about the 18-year-old Florida woman’s trip to Colorado. But her death highlights both the rise in teenagers and young adults killing themselves and the complexity of mental illness and mass ...
