Tag: Mental Health
-
Why doing good also makes us feel good, during the holidays and beyond
WASHINGTON (AP) — The holiday season is a time for giving thanks, giving gifts — and for many, a time for giving back. Food banks, services that deliver meals to seniors and other U.S. charities typically see a surge in volunteering between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. But there are good reasons to…
-
Rising suicide rates prompt coordinated response in Routt and Moffat counties
Routt and Moffat counties have been going through a difficult period. Over the past few years, residents have lost neighbors, coworkers and longtime community members to suicide, losses that hit hard in places where people often know one another by first name. Last year, 10 people in Routt County and nine in Moffat County died…
-
Colorado justices ponder ‘gotcha’ for defendant after messy process impacted mental health evidence
Some members of the Colorado Supreme Court were uncomfortable last week with letting a defendant’s murder conviction stand after a series of missteps resulted in a trial judge blocking jurors from hearing an expert’s assessment of the defendant’s mental health. Although the details were complicated, the legal issue was more streamlined: State law requires defendants…
-
Colorado survey finds mental health improves, but young adults still struggle
Fewer Coloradans say they are struggling with their mental health, according to a new state survey, hinting at progress after the pandemic’s long shadow. Two years ago, as the country struggled to return to normalcy following the COVID-19 pandemic, suicide was the second-leading cause of death in the U.S. among America’s youth and young adults.…
-
Colorado Supreme Court signals intervention in 4 ongoing cases
The Colorado Supreme Court recently signaled that it may intervene in four cases from various trial courts, two criminal and two civil. At least four of the court’s seven members must agree to initiate the process of granting relief in a case outside the usual appellate procedure. The cases address an expert’s insight into child-parent…
-
Parental rights group seeks to repeal competency law
A group of parental rights advocates and Republican lawmakers is urging the Colorado legislature to repeal a 2024 law that made changes to the state’s competency procedures. Established over the summer, the group called We The Parents includes members of the Colorado Parental Advocacy Network and legislators from the more conservative wing of the Republican…
-
YMHC impact at Ortega Middle School
For 12-year-old students navigating middle school in rural Colorado, challenges extend far beyond homework and social dynamics. Many face unstable housing, language barriers, and limited access to mental health resources. For them, the Youth Mental Health Corps (YMHC) can be a lifeline. Berkeley Wall, a second-year YMHC member at Ortega Middle School in Alamosa, has…
-
Budget cuts threaten Youth Mental Health Corps for rural students
—
by
In rural Colorado, a single school counselor can face impossible odds. With limited staff, students in crisis are at high risk of slipping through the cracks, and having their emotional, social, and academic needs unmet. At Moffat Schools in the San Luis Valley, school counselor Sarah DeLeon knows those challenges firsthand. “School counselors can be…
-
Budget cuts threaten Youth Mental Health Corps for rural students
—
by
In rural Colorado, a single school counselor can face impossible odds. With limited staff, students in crisis are at high risk of slipping through the cracks, and having their emotional, social, and academic needs unmet. At Moffat Schools in the San Luis Valley, school counselor Sarah DeLeon knows those challenges firsthand. “School counselors can be…
-
Medicaid spending surge for therapy sessions prompts Colorado to reinstate limits
Colorado’s health agency will reinstate prior authorization requirements for Medicaid patients’ therapy sessions next year as part of its efforts to control costs, which soared following a state law passed in 2022. That year, the state legislature adopted a bill prohibiting health plans from requiring prior authorization for psychotherapy sessions for Medicaid recipients. While the…