Symposium Tackles Youth Mental Health Crisis in Southwest Colorado

The inaugural Southwest Colorado Pediatric Mental Health Symposium, organized by Children’s Hospital Colorado last week, convened over 100 professionals from rural and metropolitan areas to address the pressing issue of youth mental health in the region. Experts indicated that mental health challenges among young people in Southwest Colorado are more severe than the statewide averages, highlighting a critical need for focused support and resources.

Youth mental health has been a long-standing concern in this area, escalating to a state of emergency in 2021. Since then, Colorado has made significant advances in addressing mental health issues, yet the situation remains dire, particularly in rural communities. Jessica Hawks, Chief of Psychology at Children’s Hospital Colorado, emphasized this ongoing struggle during her remarks at the symposium, which took place on the campus of Fort Lewis College on October 16-17, 2023.

The two-day event featured a diverse lineup of presentations, covering critical topics such as recognizing prevalent mental health issues in youth, responding to crises, tackling chronic absenteeism, and collaborating with parents to support their children. Sessions also included discussions on best practices for managing conditions like autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Interactive activities, including case discussions, allowed participants to engage deeply with the material.

Despite progress made in recent years, concerns persist about the mental well-being of young people. According to a news release from Children’s Hospital Colorado, inpatient admissions for mental health care among youth increased by 55.7% from 2020 to 2024. The severity of cases also rose during this period, indicating a growing demand for mental health services among pediatric patients, which outpaced the need across other patient groups in the hospital system.

In 2024, over 11,000 pediatric patients received mental health care through Children’s Hospital, including inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient services. Additionally, just over 7,000 youth accessed mental health support in the hospital’s emergency departments. These figures reflect a slight increase from 2023 and suggest a stabilization in emergency visits consistent with pre-pandemic levels.

The situation is even more alarming for youth in rural areas of Colorado. “We know that our rural communities have greater risk, and a lot of that is access to care, access to trained experts in the area,” Hawks explained. She noted that the lack of access significantly contributes to higher rates of suicide attempts and completions in the southwest region, which has recorded some of the highest suicide rates in the country over the past five years.

Lauren Henry, a licensed child psychologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, echoed these concerns, stating that the La Plata community has voiced a strong need for additional support from Front Range partners to bolster youth mental health initiatives. “All of the topics presented are directly related to what La Plata and the southwest corner have expressed struggling with,” she said.

Program manager Haley Bierk highlighted the timing of the symposium, which was intentionally scheduled to coincide with the back-to-school transition. This approach aimed to equip local youth professionals with a “trick bag” of interventions to support mental health as the school year progresses.

Participants like Sallie Kautter, a school counselor at Needham Elementary, noted the widespread nature of mental health struggles among students, particularly anxiety, across all grade levels. “It’s crucial to be here because we do see these issues,” Kautter said. “It’s important to know how to support students and stay updated on best practices to address their needs.”

Jason St. Mary, executive director of La Plata Youth Services, emphasized the significance of collaborative efforts like the symposium for smaller communities. “We need support, especially in this day and age, where funding is uncertain,” he remarked. St. Mary pointed out the necessity of strategic partnerships, noting the diverse mix of attendees, including primary care providers, social workers, and educators, all gathered to learn in a unified setting.

He also mentioned that the lack of access to mental health care is particularly acute for youths from marginalized communities. Addressing these disparities is essential for improving outcomes in mental health care for all youth in the region.

For those in crisis or needing support, resources such as the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 and the 24-hour Axis Care Hotline at 247-5245 are available, along with the La Plata County Suicide Prevention Collaborative website at https://www.lpcsuicideprevention.com/mental-behavioral-health-resources.