Mental Health Awareness Month: Mental Health Colorado's History Series

Over the past seventy years, Mental Health Colorado has made significant progress in promoting health and well-being across the state, yet challenges remain. Despite these advancements, jails and prisons continue to be the de facto mental health centers in our state; Coloradans experience some of the highest rates of mental health conditions in the nation with the least access to care; and overdose rates are at an all-time high.

With your continuing support, we can improve the lives of the hundreds of thousands of people in our state who are managing a mental health and/or substance use condition by passing laws, changing practices, and building a movement to create healthier minds across the lifespan for all Coloradans.

In recent years, with the help of supporters like YOU, we have had some of the most significant achievements in our history. In 2021, Mental Health Colorado helped establish 988- a 24/7, statewide crisis response hotline, opening the door for more people throughout Colorado to access resources in a mental health emergency. In 2022, we supported the establishment of the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) to create a coordinated, cohesive, and effective behavioral health system in Colorado to meet the needs of even the most vulnerable Coloradans. We have helped pass significant measures to increase protections for Coloradans involved in the criminal justice system, ensuring these individuals are treated with dignity and given a fair chance at recovery and rehabilitation.

Our national initiative, Care Not Cuffs, focuses on educating the public and fostering professional collaboration to disentangle mental health and criminal justice. Within this initiative, our SAFER Opportunities program offers shelter and comprehensive services from a dedicated care team to these high-needs, at-risk individuals with tremendous success- nearly 80% of our residents leave the program into employment and stable housing or are re-united with family, and we’re proud to say we’ve seen zero overdose deaths among our residents thanks to our harm reduction model.

We have amplified our impact in recent years through collaborations with the Governor’s Office, state agencies, and partner organizations including The David and Laura Merage Foundation, Rocky Mountain Health Partners, Colorado Community Health Alliance, Kroenke Sports Entertainment (KSE), iHeartMedia, Healing Advocacy Fund, Alpine Bank, ED Cares, Mortenson, University of Denver, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), University of Denver, Delta Dental, Children’s Hospital and many more.

We have expanded our capacity as an administrative hub, providing support to essential allies including the Wounded Healers Project, Colorado Fines Committee, and the School-Based Mental Health Counselors Community of Practice. And, most recently, we have acquired Envision:You to enhance supportive programming for the LGBTQ+ community throughout our state.

As we approach the end of Mental Health Awareness month, we want to celebrate these victories while bolstering our ongoing efforts. We can’t thank you enough for supporting us along the way and believing in our shared mission and we want you to know that your donations make a real difference, and every dollar counts! Donate now to help ensure our most vulnerable communities access the care they deserve. Together, we will continue being a voice for healthier minds across the lifespan for all Coloradans.