By Janice Rich and Matt Soper
There is a mental health crisis unfolding in Colorado — a microcosm of a larger issue that is going on in America.
According to Mental Health America, 26% of Colorado adults struggle with mental illness. Over the past 20 years, the suicide rate in Colorado has increased by 30%, placing it well above the national average. But the broader picture reflects the same disturbing trends; nationally, nearly one in five adults in the United States is living with anxiety, depression, or another serious mental health condition. These statistics are not getting better, and will certainly not improve on their own. The current framework in place for mental health treatment is grossly inadequate, and it’s time to modernize our approach.