Gov. Hickenlooper: Support Mental Health Legislation To Improve and Save Lives
- by: Healthier Colorado
- recipient: Governor Hickenlooper
Too often, Coloradans are not able to access the mental health care they need. One tragic demonstration of this fact is our state's continued practice of allowing people on a mental health hold, sometimes also referred to as an M-1 hold, to be put in jail if there are no available beds in designated facilities. We are one of only six states who allow this practice.
Colorado is in the midst of a mental health crisis. We rank 9th in the nation for number of suicides. On average, 35 Coloradans die from unintentional drug overdoses every month. We rank 6th in the nation for the number of people with drug use disorders, and 26th in the nation for alcoholism and alcohol abuse.
At the end of the 2016 legislative session, Governor Hickenlooper created a task force to develop recommendations related to mental health holds. This task force met for five months and came up with seven recommendations to improve Colorado's mental health hold laws and practices. Now, it's up to the state to implement these important recommendations.
Please sign this petition to let the governor's office know that we must move forward with the task force's recommendations.
Task force recommendations:
Please sign our petition urging Governor Hickenlooper to actively usher these task force recommendations into law.
Colorado is in the midst of a mental health crisis. We rank 9th in the nation for number of suicides. On average, 35 Coloradans die from unintentional drug overdoses every month. We rank 6th in the nation for the number of people with drug use disorders, and 26th in the nation for alcoholism and alcohol abuse.
At the end of the 2016 legislative session, Governor Hickenlooper created a task force to develop recommendations related to mental health holds. This task force met for five months and came up with seven recommendations to improve Colorado's mental health hold laws and practices. Now, it's up to the state to implement these important recommendations.
Please sign this petition to let the governor's office know that we must move forward with the task force's recommendations.
Task force recommendations:
- End the use of law enforcement facilities for M-1 holds.
- Streamline regulations and establish a stronger system of accountability to enhance due process protections for those experiencing an M-1 hold.
- Established a tiered ranking system for facilities who treat those going through a mental health crisis to better identify the kind of care facilities are equipped to provide and provide further protections for those experiencing a mental health crisis.
- Address network adequacy to ensure that each region of the state has adequate providers. Expand the behavioral health workforce to ensure that there are enough providers throughout the state.
- Create a sustainable and reliable data monitoring system.
- Change existing reimbursement and payment structures to ensure proper payment for the treatment of those on mental health holds.
- Create pilot programs for client transportation to mental health facilities that reduce the costs, stigma, and trauma that is often associated with transport.
Please sign our petition urging Governor Hickenlooper to actively usher these task force recommendations into law.
Dear Governor Hickenlooper,
Thank you for creating the M-1 Holds Task Force (Task Force) to further examine our state’s current policies and procedures as they relate to mental health holds. We believe that the Task Force’s recommendations should be implemented as quickly as possible. These eight recommendations have the potential to improve the lives of Coloradans who find themselves in the unfortunate position of experiencing a mental health crisis.
Colorado is one of only six states that currently allows those on a mental health hold to be put in jail if no alternative exists. We must must begin to work towards the cessation of this practice as quickly as possible, as no Coloradan should be subjected to this indignity and substandard care. Colorado is better than this.
We do recognize that there are underlying resource challenges to ending this practice, particularly for rural counties and health systems. We ask that the same proactivity and collaboration applied in the Task Force also be invested in addressing these resource issues in the state legislature. This is a step forward that is worth public investment.
As you are well aware, Colorado consistently ranks in the top ten states for number of suicides, and we have growing rates of opioid addiction and alcoholism. Thus, we also urge your administration and the state legislature to pass policies that will help increase network adequacy, ensure that providers are fairly compensated for providing behavioral health treatment, and invest in the next generation of behavioral health care workers. These Task Force recommendations will make Colorado a healthier place, especially in our rural and underserved communities.
[Your Comment]
Thank you,
[Your Name]
Sign PetitionSign PetitionThank you for creating the M-1 Holds Task Force (Task Force) to further examine our state’s current policies and procedures as they relate to mental health holds. We believe that the Task Force’s recommendations should be implemented as quickly as possible. These eight recommendations have the potential to improve the lives of Coloradans who find themselves in the unfortunate position of experiencing a mental health crisis.
Colorado is one of only six states that currently allows those on a mental health hold to be put in jail if no alternative exists. We must must begin to work towards the cessation of this practice as quickly as possible, as no Coloradan should be subjected to this indignity and substandard care. Colorado is better than this.
We do recognize that there are underlying resource challenges to ending this practice, particularly for rural counties and health systems. We ask that the same proactivity and collaboration applied in the Task Force also be invested in addressing these resource issues in the state legislature. This is a step forward that is worth public investment.
As you are well aware, Colorado consistently ranks in the top ten states for number of suicides, and we have growing rates of opioid addiction and alcoholism. Thus, we also urge your administration and the state legislature to pass policies that will help increase network adequacy, ensure that providers are fairly compensated for providing behavioral health treatment, and invest in the next generation of behavioral health care workers. These Task Force recommendations will make Colorado a healthier place, especially in our rural and underserved communities.
[Your Comment]
Thank you,
[Your Name]
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