Burlington Public Library

Colorado has a behavioral health system that works for some people, but not all. The Behavioral Health Task Force heard from hundreds of Coloradans who are continuing to struggle to access the care they need for themselves or a loved one. Tragically, many of these stories ended up in the death of a loved one. In 2018, Colorado had the seventh-highest suicide rate in the nation. Additionally, 15.3% of Coloradans reported poor mental health in 2019,...

As of 2011, more than 1 million Coloradans were considered obese. Obesity can be caused by several factors including genetics, metabolism, personal behaviors, culture, and socioeconomic status. Recent studies have shown that obesity rates in rural areas are often higher than urban areas in the U.S. 5 Rural areas in Colorado have been associated with a number of disparities in health and access to health services, including higher rates of motor vehicle...

The home environment is commonly considered to be a place of safety and comfort for people. However harmful exposures can occur in the home and some Colorado populations have increased risk to these exposures. Unhealthy housing conditions from radon and secondhand smoke exposures occur disproportionately within Colorado populations, resulting in health equity and environmental justice issues.

Excessive alcohol use contributes to an estimated 1,633 deaths annually in Colorado, which is an average of almost five deaths each day. A portion of these alcohol-attributable deaths include deaths by suicide. Research has shown that excessive alcohol use is associated with increased suicide risk. Suicide continues to be a critical public health concern both nationally and in Colorado.