COMMUNITY HEALTH ACTION PLAN
STEP 1: ADDRESS COMMUNITY IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES
Mental Health
Mental health is a crucial component of a child’s well-being, impacting a child throughout
their lifespan and across all domains of development, including school performance
and health outcomes. Lack of information and understanding regarding mental health
issues can pose serious barriers to mental health promotion in children and families.
Additionally, the stigma associated with seeking mental health services creates an
additional barrier to overcome. Parents/caregivers, community residents, and key
informants and leaders from community based organizations who participated in the
2015 community health needs assessment survey, interviews, and focus groups all cited
mental health as one of the most critical health needs for Colorado children, regardless
of geographic location or income level. Additionally, data sources such as the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Child Health Survey and Healthy
Kids Survey reinforce mental health as a priority for Colorado children.
To address these concerns, Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) will focus on
three major areas of prevention and health promotion:
Goal 1: Educate about and reduce stigma associated with mental health
Goal 2: Promote healthy social-emotional development for children ages 3-18
Goal 3: Increase access to mental health services
NOTE: These goals are designed to build upon the early childhood development goals and
strategies outlined in the Prematurity Plan.
Colorado
vs
National
Mental Health
13%
Children ages 0-14 needed
care in the last year
24%
Teens felt sad or hopeless
at least two weeks in last year
60
Teens lost their lives
due to suicide
8%
28%
4600
Community Health Action Plan
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