News Clips
AROUND TOWN: NAMI IS ‘STEPPING INTO THE LIGHT’ OF MENTAL ILLNESS
By: Linda Navarro
May 30, 2018
For several years, those attending the National Alliance on Mental Illness fundraising breakfasts spoke about "Embracing the Light."
The light of understanding and becoming more open became even brighter on May 3 at The Broadmoor as 650 people moved forward, "Stepping into the Light" of mental illness on the 35th anniversary of NAMI Colorado Springs.
The $180,000 goal for that morning was eclipsed when the total raised was announced: $205,000. "This is fully one-third of NAMI's annual operating budget," said ...
EXPERT: SCHOOL STAFFERS NEED TRAINING TO HELP STUDENTS WITH MENTAL ISSUES
By: Peter Roper
May 30, 2018
Nikolas Cruz, the brooding young man facing trial in the shooting deaths of 17 students and teachers at a Florida high school in February, was no stranger to local police, school counselors and even the FBI.
Cruz's history of belligerent acts and threatening behavior had marked him to adults who encountered him.
Even so, the 19-year-old apparently was able to arm himself with a semi-automatic rifle and attack his school on Feb. 14
For Andrew Romanoff, executive director of Mental Health Colorado, the incidents of school attacks ...
EXPERTS SHARE RESOURCES FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION
May 30, 2018
The groups Mental Health Colorado and Advocates for Recovery join 9NEWS to talk about addiction and recovery.
Originally appeared on 9NEWS.
PUEBLO GROUP HOSTING DISCUSSION ON GUN VIOLENCE
By: Peter Roper
May 26, 2018
Pueblo Indivisible wants to start a community discussion about gun violence and what steps could be taken to lower the danger of such a shooting happening here.
The group is hosting a forum on May 31 at the Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library. The 6:30 p.m. program is free and open to the public.
Former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, the current chief of Mental Health Colorado. His own family has been touched by suicide.
State Sen. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora. Her college-age son was shot to ...
HEALTH AND BUSINESS LEADERS HOLD SYMPOSIUM OVER OPIOID ABUSE
By: Andy Koen
May 24, 2018
A coalition to confront opioid addiction in the Pikes Peak region is growing. Health professionals met with business leaders Thursday talk about the addiction crisis and how they can join the fight.
The Opioid Crisis Symposium held at the Pinery at the Hill was put together by the Community Health Partnership, Pyxant Labs and the Colorado Springs Business Journal.
The conversation covered everything from issues related to identifying and helping employees who might be struggling with substance abuse to training staff to give ...
MENTAL HEALTH COLORADO WORKS TO PUT TOOLKIT IN EVERY SCHOOL
By: Katie Pelton
May 24, 2018
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) -- More than 200,000 kids in Colorado experience mental health issues every year. Now one non-profit is working to put tool-kits in every school to help kids.
The group 'Mental Health Colorado' told us the tool-kits will provide several resources for schools. It will help educators recognize early warning signs of mental health issues.
"The truth is a lot of kids aren't getting the advantages they need and so they are struggling and suffering and in some cases even dying as a result," said Andrew ...
COLORADANS DESERVE BETTER MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACCESS
By Andrew Romanoff – President and CEO, Mental Health Colorado
May 23, 2018
Put six Republicans and three Democrats on the same stage, and you might not expect them to agree on anything. When it comes to improving mental health care, however, you can find common ground.
Nine candidates shared a stage this spring at Mental Health Colorado’s first-ever gubernatorial forum. The consensus, we ought to make it harder for people who pose a danger to themselves or others to get guns, and easier for them to get ...
TOOLKIT REACHES CHILDREN AND SCHOOLS IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH GUIDANCE
By Dr. Sarah Davidon – Research Director, Mental Health Colorado
May 23, 2018
Children are more likely to access mental health services if they are provided in school rather than in the community. While evidence supports this, significant barriers prevent many students from receiving the services they need.
In fact, even schools and districts with the best-laid plans to support mental health will find their school psychologists, social workers and counselors struggling to provide school-wide services. Funding, resources and time are just some ...
RECOVERY WEEK: MAN CONNECTS HIS ADDICTION TO TRAUMA
By: TaRhonda Thomas
May 23, 2018
All this week, on 9NEWS at 6 a.m. we will be featuring stories of people who have beaten addiction and are in the process of recovery.
Ray Vigil drank heavily for years but never realized he was drinking to numb the pain of an abusive childhood and other traumas until he hit rock bottom and began seeing a therapist.
As the smell of essential oils fills Ray Vigil’s apartment, Native American music plays softly in the background while he looks at notecards of positive affirmations and rests his hand ...
STATEWIDE DRIVE UNDERWAY TO PUT MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES INTO EVERY COLORADO SCHOOL
May 21, 2018
DENVER — Children are more likely to seek help if mental health support is available at school. To that end, Mental Health Colorado has created a School Toolkit — essentially, the A,B,C's for getting students access to mental health care.
The toolkit is a guide for schools, districts and interested parents — anyone who wants kids to get the mental health attention they deserve. This includes help with implementing mental health screenings, suicide prevention, wellness plans that could include school counselors and more.
"The first signs of mental ...
