Mental Health in our Community
What is mental health?
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. - MentalHealth.gov
What are common diagnosis?
Social anxiety disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Anxiety Disorder
Depression
Post Partum Depression
Stigma
Stigma is a big part of our mental health problem in Larimer County. Many people are afraid or embarrassed to seek out support and treatment even if it is readily available.
Recent Data
24% of Larimer County adults surveyed reported that they or someone in their family needed mental health services.
20% of teens reported purposely hurting themselves without wanting to die in the last 30 days.
What can our community do?
- Support awareness and anti stigma campaigns
- Don’t minimize our community’s struggle with mental health
- Mental First Aid training is available in our community. Learn about risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems.
- Educate yourself
- Get involved - plenty of nonprofits, government agencies and community groups are working to help reduce stigma, provide treatment options and support community members.
What makes mental health so complicated?
Providers have different specialties in what they treat. An individual might have to try a few providers before finding one they are comfortable with. Sometimes a further diagnosis can result in a provider change. The wait to see one of these providers could take months. Many people don’t know where to start or what might be wrong to find a good provider fit.
Insurance further complicates mental health needs. Some providers don’t take private insurance, many providers don’t take Medicaid or Medicare. Some accept only full payment and some limit the amount amount of visits provided under mental health services.
Language can also be a barrier. English is the primary language of most local providers. Spanish speakers often have to seek providers outside of Larimer County to find someone who speaks Spanish. The delicate nature of mental health services make it so that interpretation is not a viable option.
Treatment isn’t a one size fits all solution. While some people need regular therapy and provider interaction, some people need local support groups and community support. Some people require inpatient treatment.
Why are people talking about detox?
We don’t have a local detox option. People needing detox end up in our emergency rooms, taking up valuable patient space.
Weld county has the closest detox facility.
What has been done by the County?
Larimer County is not a mental health expert. We partnered with NIATx, for an initial study and recommendations on the mental health needs in our community. This assessment was funded in collaboration with the County, the Health District of Northern Larimer County and Summitstone Mental Health.
The county has set aside land for a possible mental health facility. This land is currently set aside at the Taft and Trilby. This is already county owned land that can be set aside for a possible mental health campus. If a better location is found, the County is willing to look at other options for the location as well.
Some ongoing mental Health Work in our community is being done in partnership with:
Partners Mentoring Youth
Early Childhood Council of Larimer County Leap Coalition
Summit Stone
Health District Connections
Center for Family Outreach
Northern Colorado Aids Project
The Matthews House
Alliance for Suicide Prevention
Imagine Zero
SAVA
House of Neighborly Services
Turning Point
The Center for Family Outreach
Restorative Justice
Intercultural Community Builders
Larimer County
CSU Health Network
Crisis Victims Advocates
Centennial High School Health Center
League of Women Voters
Splash
Childsafe
Grand Families Coalition
Loveland Community Health Center
Grace Place
