A big part of my job as Attorney General is working on public health issues, and mental health issues in particular. Over the course of the pandemic, these issues have grown in importance, as so many have struggled with isolation and even despair. As a parent of two teenagers, I know firsthand that it’s been a hard time.
As Attorney General, I have worked to protect teens and address mental health issues from a number of angles. For starters, our office runs the
Safe2Tell program, which provides students and their families a safe, trusted, and anonymous opportunity to share threats—from kids bringing guns to school to drugs being sold at school to threat of suicide. And with school back in person, Safe2Tell tips are way up—over 100%—and, once again, threats of suicide are the top threat we receive. That’s why we sponsored a teen-to-teen awareness campaign about not suffering in silence and an awareness campaign about the importance of safe gun storage as a way to prevent suicides.
To address teen mental health issues, we announced a public-private initiative,
Healthy Youth/Strong Colorado, last spring. This program provides funding to suicide prevention programs, after school programs, and outdoor education diversion programs. A couple of weeks ago, I visited
The Hub in Durango, which is a model program that we are supporting.
We can all do our part to destigmatize conversations about mental health and wellness. By creating space for such conversations, we can save lives.
And if you, or someone you know, needs to talk to someone about their mental health, just text START to 741-741 or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for a free, confidential conversation with a trained counselor 24/7.
It’s been a hard couple of years. As we emerge from these challenging times and work to create a better future for young people in Colorado, we need to be there for one another.
