#MentalHealthIsReal
Mental Health Statistics for Colorado: 2021
*Colorado ranked 48th nationwide meaning we had higher rates of mental illness and lower rates of access to care compared to most other states.
*Mental health workforce availability is 280:1 meaning there are 280 individuals to 1 mental health provider
Youth Data
*Ranked 42nd in the state meaning we had higher rates of mental illness and lower rates of access to care compared to youth in most other states
*13.99% of youth have experienced at least one depressive episode; 60.9% of them did not receive services
*8.7% experienced a severe major depressive episode; 21.5% of them received some consistent treatment
*5.12% have experienced a substance use disorder
*6.88% of students had emotional disturbance identified on their IEP
*8.3% of children had private insurance that did not cover mental/emotional problems
Adult Data
*Ranked 48th in the state meaning we had higher rates of mental illness and lower rates of access to care compared to adults in most other states
*21.5% experience mental illness
*11.9% have a substance use disorder
*5.51% experience serious thoughts of suicide
*9% with a mental illness are uninsured
*50.9% with a mental illness do not receive treatment
*28.2% with a mental illness report an unmet need
*28.23% with a cognitive disability could not see a doctor due to costs
Mental Health Needs in Relationship to the COVID-19 pandemic
*The number of people looking for help with anxiety and depression have skyrocketed
*The number of people screening with moderate to severe symptoms of depression and anxiety increased through 2020 and remains higher than rates prior to the pandemic
*More people are reporting frequent thoughts of suicide and self-harm than have been recorded since 2014
*Young people ages 11-17 are struggling most with their mental health
*Rates of suicidal ideation are highest among youth, especially the LGBTQ+ youth
*People screening at risk for mental health conditions are struggling most with loneliness or isolation
*People who identify as Asian or Pacific Islander were searching for mental health resources more in 2020 than ever before
*While rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation are increasing for people of all races and ethnicities, there are notable differences in changes over time with anxiety and depression increasing for those who identify as Black/African American and with suicidal ideation for those who identify as Native American/American Indian