WIth the current state of the world, our lives have made a dramatic shift from our everyday routines. There is a lot of uncertainty and there are no definite answers when life will return to normalcy.
With this in mind, it is key to take care of your mental well being. I remember reading an article a couple years ago reporting that Colorado was one of the worst states for lacking access to mental health services for adolescents in the United States. That fact really shocked me and is cause for concern especially since suicide rates are the increase and Colorado is 6th in the nation. Colorado has a lot of rural areas that lack access to care and stigma is still high about reaching out for mental health problems.
Listed below are 5 facts specific to the mental health of Colorado:
Colorado’s suicide rate is 19.1 in 100,000 (2012) 6th highest in the nation.
Higher percentages occur in rural/frontier areas than in urban areas.
Challenge of access to mental health care
39 counties do not have a practicing psychiatrist and 22 counties do not have an active licensed psychologist
Stigma still on the rise
1 in 10 Coloradoans stated they did not receive mental health treatment when they needed it and 1 in 4 did not reach out for mental health treatment about fears about what others would think about them.
Critical need in Colorado
1 in 4 teens report severe depression
Teen girls are 2x as likely to report feeling depressed over teen boys
250,000 Coloradoans misuse prescription drugs
Seniors are the least likely to report poor mental health
1 in 10 Colorado moms reports postpartum depression (10.5%)
About 74.3 percent of new moms during prenatal care visits included discussions of pregnancy-related depression
Less than 30% of moms who report postpartum depression seek out mental health treatment
Good mental health promotes good overall health
During this pandemic, reach out to friends and family, limit time watching to news or spending time on social media, engage in activities that are relaxing, soothing, and bring you joy.
Consider reaching out to those you haven’t spoken to in a while, it may go a long way. We are feeling more isolated now than ever and lack of access to fun outings and connections with others can lead to sadness and an overall sense of loss. Spread kindness and let others know you are there for them.
If you or a loved one are struggling, please don’t hold back in reaching out for help.
Here is a list of helpful resources:
https://www.mentalhealthcolorado.org/dashboard/
https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-By-the-Numbers
https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/help-for-moms/
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
With care,
Alison
Alison is the owner of Hartman Therapy in Colorado. She offers online counseling helping tired, overwhelmed moms, sad teens, and frustrated parents. Alison has been working with adolescents, families, and adults for the past 7 years helping to build healthy, resilient families. She specializes in perinatal mental health and teen girl depression and anxiety.