WEEK OF MAY 16, 2024
VOLUME 36 | ISSUE 20
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Mental health resources to break stigmas A candid dialogue on addiction and mental health in the Latino community
Commerce City’s sustainability challenge aims to shift behavior
BY ROSSANA LONGO BETTER ROSSANA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
• Vestas to lay off 200 employees •27J Schools moves online-only Dec. 1
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BUSINESS
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LOCAL OBITUARIES LEGALS CLASSIFIED
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Gov. Jared Polis proclaimed May 2024 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Colorado, joining a national effort to address mental health challenges and reduce the stigma associated with seeking help. The state’s Behavioral Health Administration is supporting this initiative, emphasizing the importance of mental health and sharing accessible resources for diverse communities throughout the month. Virginia García Pivik, a communications consultant working with the state on Latino issues, provides insights into available programs and how they are being used to support those facing mental health and addiction challenges in Colorado. Additionally, BHA is endorsing various programs designed to provide immediate support to individuals at different stages of their mental health. Colorado residents can access these resources through the Colorado Crisis Services hotline and other local initiatives. According to data from the 2021 Colorado Health Access Survey, over 80,000 people in the state admitted to needing substance use treatment, but never receiving it. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Colorado Community Media: What can you tell us about the programs Colorado offers to provide resources for those struggling with addiction? Virginia García Pivik: One of the first resources I’d like to mention is I Matter, also known in Spanish as Yo Importo. This resource emerged from a state legislature proposal here in
Making a big impact with small actions
BY LONDON LYLE SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Virginia García Pivik, spokesperson for Mental Health Awareness Month in Colorado. COURTESY
Colorado in 2021. The state legislature proposal for those who want to look it up is HB21–1258, and it was determined that children ages 18 and under can receive six free therapy sessions. This age range even extends up to 21 years old if they are receiving special education. The idea is that these young people can see a therapist and receive up to six sessions of free counseling, which is extremely important because we know that sometimes these therapies can be costly. Parents don’t always know where to take their children to receive this kind of assistance. Parents can find more resources or enroll their children or teenagers on the Yo Importo Colorado portal to find a therapist and schedule an appointment. In May 2023, last year, this legislation was renewed to continue providing free therapy to young people and children until June 30, 2024. CCM: And what will happen after July 1 of this year? García Pivik: The expansion of the service will be studied, and if possible, it may be extended from
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six to 12 free therapy sessions if the case warrants it and is more severe. Another resource is Tough As a Mother, which, as you can tell, has a direct and complete relationship with pregnant women who are expecting or already have a child. The idea is to provide community services for treatment and support on their path to recovery. I like this campaign because it’s very sincere. It’s very straightforward and also speaks with a lot of compassion about the pressures that expecting moms face. Many times they need additional strength to overcome challenges or myths that exist, like if I’m having an addiction, maybe the system or the court will take away my children because I’m struggling with this situation. This is not the case, so you can visit Tough As a Mother if you’re looking for assistance in terms of receiving community resources or support if you’re a mom or a pregnant person struggling with addictions to alcohol or drugs. SEE STIGMAS, P4
May flowers are in bloom, graduation season is upon us, and Colorado’s signature trails are full of hikers. The long summer days offer an opportunity for new habits, and by trying a few of them out, residents can potentially win gardening goodies from Commerce City’s Energy, Equity, and the Environment Division. For the past two years, Commerce City has offered residents monthly sustainability challenges to promote practices that can improve air and water quality, waste reduction and overall environmental health. In addition to helping benefit the community as a whole, participation can also improve folks’ finances. Taking shorter showers lowers water bills, turning off lights saves on electricity, and using reusable grocery bags saves that pesky 10-cent-per-bag charge. It might seem like small changes, but they add up over time, city officials say. In 2017, a Carbon Majors Report was published that found that just 100 companies were behind 71% of global industrial greenhouse gas emissions from 1988 to 2015. Many major news outlets published the study, and in the years since, public discourse on climate change responsibility shifted from personal responsibility to placing the blame on corporations. In recent years, some articles have claimed that our personal impact on the environment is low; recycling does little to help the environment, for example. SEE IMPACT, P6
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