Colorado Behavioral Health & Wellness Summit Returns to DU

Envision:You is partnering once more with the University of Denver to host the annual Colorado Behavioral Health & Wellness Summit, bringing together researchers, policy makers, clinicians, and community members to address issues surrounding mental health later this month.

Steven Haden, co-chair of the Summit and CEO of Envision:You says the event is unique because there is no cost to access and attend the 40 workshops offered through the week.

“It removes barriers and provides an opportunity for everyone impacted or concerned about behavioral health issues in our community to come together to learn from another and commit to finding meaningful solutions,” Haden says.

The summit is indeed free and open to the public, aiming to provide an accessible space from stakeholders and the community to talk over strategies surrounding the intersection on substance use, mental health, and wellness.

Nancy Lorenzon, teaching professor in Biological Sciences at the University of Denver and a member of the event’s steering committee, says that this intersection of issues continues to present significant challenges in Colorado.

“An estimated 20 percent of Colorado’s adult population is living with a mental health concern and our state consistently ranks low in access to care, prevalence of mental illness and suicide rates,” Lorenzon says. “The pandemic, of course, has only amplified the crisis, with the Colorado Crisis Line seeing a nearly 50 percent increase in calls and texts and deaths by overdose and suicide reaching all-time highs.”

The summit will feature individuals with lived experience, exploration of new ideas in the field of behavioral health, along with tips to improve attendees’ own mental wellbeing.

The event’s opening night will feature a keynote presentation from Dr. Paula Stone Williams, an LGBTQ and gender-equity consultant, pastor, and counselor, followed by a roundtable discussion with nationally recognized leaders in the behavioral health field.

The event will take place online and in-person at the University of Denver’s Community Commons building from October 25-28.

For more information and to get registered for the event, visit the Colorado Behavioral Health & Wellness Summit website.

Photo courtesy of the Colorado Behavioral Health & Wellness Summit