Colorado has a behavioral health system that works for some people, but not all. The Behavioral Health Task Force heard from hundreds of Coloradans who are continuing to struggle to access the care they need for themselves or a loved one. Tragically, many of these stories ended up in the death of a loved one. In 2018, Colorado had the seventh-highest suicide rate in the nation. Additionally, 15.3% of Coloradans reported poor mental health in 2019, up from 11.8% in 2017. Many Coloradans report they are not able to access timely care because the services they need are not available in their communities, wait times are too long, or providers can't accommodate their disabilities. The data affirms these concerns: Colorado ranked 29th worst among states by Mental Health America in terms of the prevalence of mental illness and access to care, and close to 95,000 Coloradans with substance use disorder went without treatment in 2019.
