Press releases

Legislators, Community Members to Drive Transformation of Colorado’s Behavioral Health System

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 3, 2021 Media Contact: Aubree Thompson 405-615-3845 Legislators, Community Members to Drive Transformation of Colorado’s Behavioral Health System Mental Health Colorado says Priority Must be Given to Ending Systematic Inequities and Discrimination DENVER—Legislators and community members will convene the Behavioral Health Transformational Task Force in August to decide how to spend $450 million dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dedicated to behavioral health. According to Mental Health Colorado, this is a once in a ...

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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 ...

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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, ...

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Colorado Bill To Provide Free Mental Health Services To Colorado Youth In Response To Pandemic’s Impact

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 15, 2021 Media Contact: Flora Welsh, Communications Manager 502.727.4329 Colorado Bill To Provide Free Mental Health Services To Colorado Youth In Response To Pandemic’s Impact Denver — The disruptions and challenges to children’s mental health resulting from the pandemic have inspired the Colorado state legislature to work on a solution to deliver recovery-focused care to Colorado’s youth before the start of the next academic year. Mental Health Colorado supports House Bill 21-1258 Rapid Mental Health Response For Colorado’s ...

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Proposed Law Would Limit the Use of Solitary Confinement in Colorado Jails

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 25, 2021 Media Contact: Aubree Hughes, Director of Communications 405-615-3845 Proposed Law Would Limit the Use of Solitary Confinement in Colorado Jails Studies Show Psychological Stress from Isolation Compares to Physical Torture DENVER—As in most other states across the nation, individuals with serious mental health conditions are entering Colorado’s criminal justice system at alarming rates as a result of unmet health needs. Some of the most seriously ill of these individuals, many of whom are jailed pre-trial and are still ...

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Secure Transportation Bill 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 9, 2021 Media Contact: Aubree Hughes, Communications Director 405-615-3845 Secure Transportation Bill Introduced to Improve Mental Health Crisis Response, Reduce Burden on Law Enforcement DENVER—In the midst of a mental health or substance use crisis, many Coloradans are transported by law enforcement in handcuffs or by ambulance. According to mental health advocates, this dramatic and inappropriate response exacerbates crises, and can be perceived as a public shaming of people with mental health and substance use ...

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Mental Health Advocates Introduce Bill To Support People in Recovery, Address Health Care Workforce Shortage 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Feb. 18, 2021    Media Contact:   Aubree Hughes, Director of Communications  405-615-3845    Mental Health Advocates Introduce Bill To Support People in Recovery, Address Health Care Workforce Shortage  With Bipartisan Support, HB 21-1021 Seeks to Improve Peer Support Services     DENVER—In the past two years, the number of Coloradans who didn’t receive mental health or substance use care that they needed nearly doubled—yet, in 2019, Colorado’s behavioral health workforce only met 30% of the state’s need. ...

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Mental Health Colorado Convenes State and County Partners to Disentangle Mental Health, Criminal Justice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 25, 2021 Media Contact: Aubree Hughes, Director of Communications 405-615-3845 Mental Health Colorado Convenes State and County Partners to Disentangle Mental Health, Criminal Justice DENVER— In the absence of adequate access to health services, people with unmanaged mental health needs often intersect with law enforcement and spend time in jails, then cycling in and out of detention, homelessness, and joblessness. Mental Health Colorado, the state’s leading mental health advocacy organization, will host the Colorado Counties ...

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Mental Health Colorado Announces Positions for 2020 Ballot Issues

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 1, 2020 Media Contact: Flora Welsh 502-727-4329 Mental Health Colorado Announces Positions for 2020 Ballot Issues The advocacy group supports paid family leave, nicotine tax, Gallagher Amendment repeal DENVER—Mental Health Colorado is taking a position on four of the ballot issues being brought before voters in November. There are eleven total ballot issues—three are referred measures by the legislature, and eight are citizen initiatives. Mental Health Colorado supports paid family and medical leave, tax on nicotine products, and ...

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Former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy to Headline Mental Health Colorado Fundraising Gala

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 29, 2020 Media Contact: Aubree Hughes 405-615-3845   Former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy to Headline Mental Health Colorado Fundraising Gala Kennedy Championed Landmark Legislation to End Unequal Treatment of Mental Health, Addiction DENVER—For 37 years, Mental Health Colorado—the state’s leading mental health advocate—has hosted their annual Tribute Gala fundraiser. For the first time, the event will be virtual and former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy will give the keynote. With former Denver Bronco Reggie Rivers as ...

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