Mental Health in America

2. Colorado HealthStory is working to create an appreciation of our shared experiences of health, one conversation at a time. Everyone has a health story to tell; the joyous birth of a baby, the moving experience of sitting with a dying parent, a journey of remarkable healing, the daily reality of living with diabetes, the perspective gained from providing health care.

3. Everyone is vulnerable to conditions of poor mental health or mental illness regardless of socioeconomic status or community of friends and family. Mental Health in America

4. Mental Health in Colorado 3 out of 10 Coloradans, or 1.5 millions Coloradans, need behavioral health care.1 In 2010 about 52,000 children live with serious mental health conditions in Colorado.2 1 out of 12 Coloradans are in severe need of behavioral health care. Colorado ranks sixth among states for its rate of suicide. 1 In 2007, Colorado ranked 32nd nationally for publicly funded mental health. 1 2009 marked the highest single year total of deaths related to suicide since over a decade.1 Approximately 790,000 Coloradans are uninsured.2 Underinsurance limits ones’ ability to access mental health care. 1Source: The Status of Behavioral Health in Colorado, http://www.coloradomentalhealth.org/2011-status-report 2Source: NAMI, http://www.nami.org/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm?ContentFileID=93483

5. Where are our Providers? “As Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Center of Denver (MHCD) he leads the organization in “focusing on what people can do, not what they can’t do.” Colorado is in need of more psychiatrists like Dr. Clark, especially in the rural and frontier areas.  As a state we must reorganize and revise the behavioral health and primary care workforces outside of the metro Denver and Colorado Springs areas.” 1Source: Colorado HealthStoryBlog, http://coloradohealthstory.org/1319/a-sons-career/ 2Source: The Colorado Health Institute,http://www.cpt12.org/news/index.php/study -30-percent-of-coloradans-need-mental-health-care/

6. Where are our Providers? Time has passed since these statistics were collected. How do you think the state of mental health in Colorado exists today in contrast to this data? 1Source: Colorado HealthStoryBlog, http://coloradohealthstory.org/1319/a-sons-career/ 2Source: The Colorado Health Institute, http://www.cpt12.org/news/index.php/study-30-percent-of-coloradans-need-mental-health-care/

7. Durango, CO MarianaAurora, CO

8. JeffSilverthorne, CO

9. LisaLa Junta, CO

10. What were the highlights of this story? • How did you feel as you were listening to this story? • Why was it important for you to hear this story? • What will you tell your family and friends about this story?

11. There are many proven strategies for managing your mental health. Some tips from Mental Health of America of Colorado include: 1. Be realistic about the amount of responsibilities you can handle at once 2. Meditate 3. Take on one task at a time 4. Exercise regularly 5. Take up a hobby 6. Eat a balanced diet1 If these techniques do not help relieve stress or other conditions of poor mental health one can reach out to a friend, family member, a trusted individual in a support role for support, or a mental health professional. Improving Your Mental Health 1Source: Mental Health America of Colorado, http://www.mhacolorado.org/file_depot/0-10000000/30000-40000/31946/folder/76279/Stress.pdf

12. Join the conversation about health in your community. Decisions about your health are too important and too personal to be left solely to others. Sign up to share your health story, and we can help make your voice heard.