2017 Community Benefit Report CHAI_160088756_2018-11_2017 Community Benefit Repo | Page 16

2017 COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO
Let’s Talk About
Mental Health
Bringing a youth voice to a statewide campaign
For children and youth facing mental health challenges, there’s an average delay of 8 to 10
years between the onset of symptoms and intervention, which are critical developmental
years in the life of a child. One of the primary reasons for this delay is the stigma still
associated with mental health and the shame many feel about seeking help.
In 2017, Children’s Hospital Colorado joined Let’s Talk Colorado, a campaign developed
in collaboration with a range of public health, addiction, recovery and state and local
government programs to encourage Coloradans to discuss challenges everyone faces to
maintaining a state of balanced, positive mental health.
Children’s Colorado Mental Health Strategist Deb Federspiel says, “As a provider who serves
children and youth that face mental health challenges, Children’s Colorado brought a voice
and resources to the campaign that emphasized the specific barriers young adults face
when it comes to stigma, and how parents can look for signs their child might need help.”
childrenscolorado.org/stigma
Funded by a State Innovation Model from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation,
Let’s Talk Colorado has deployed a number of tactics aimed at initiating an inclusive
conversation about mental health, as well as encouraging those who need acute care for
serious mental health issues to seek treatment. So far, this effort has included significant
media buys, website development (letstalkco.org), social media activation and distribution
of resources statewide.
Let’s Talk Colorado continues to underscore the importance of talking about mental health
and seeking professional care, just as we would with a physical injury or ailment, in a joint
effort to put an end to the stigma that keeps so many from accessing the life-saving services
and treatment they need.
The state of youth mental health in Colorado:
• Suicide is the leading cause of death for kids ages 10 to 17
• Colorado was ranked 48th in terms of youth mental illness prevalence and access to care
“Those of us who need treatment
are more likely to seek it when we
all agree that mental health is
everyone’s responsibility”
• 3,718 children needed mental health crisis care in Children’s Colorado’s Emergency
Departments in 2017
Nationally, we know:
• 13% of youth aged 8 to 12 live with mental illness severe enough to cause significant
impairment in their day-to-day lives. This figure jumps to 21% in youth aged 13 to 18.
• Over 1.7 million youth with major depressive episodes did not receive treatment —
that’s enough to fill every major league baseball stadium on the east coast twice.
L E T ’ S TA L K C O L O R A D O C A M PA I G N
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