A recent segment of Colorado & Company on 9NEWS brought together three Denver-area organizations to discuss the growing mental health crisis among Colorado youth. Host Tory Shulman spoke with Lorez Meinhold of Caring for Denver, Haley Shilts of Girls Inc. of Metro Denver, and mental health counselor Elliott Ross of PlatteForum about the alarming trends facing young people in the state — including Colorado’s ranking second in the nation for prevalence of mental illness and in the top 10 for suicide rates.
The conversation explored why mental health programs tailored specifically to youth are so critical, touching on the unique pressures of adolescence, the impact of social media on anxiety, and the dangers of early substance use. Elliott Ross described how PlatteForum’s ArtLab internship program has become a trusted safe space for high schoolers to access counseling, while Haley Shilts highlighted Girls Inc.’s programming — including Mental Health Mondays and social-emotional learning activities — designed to support girls who face disproportionately high rates of depression and suicidal ideation.
All three guests emphasized that trusted relationships and meeting young people where they are are key to opening doors for support.