Colorado students to receive free mental health screenings at school under new law
Starting this fall, all middle and high school students in Colorado can receive free mental health evaluations at school.
A new law will allow schools to offer behavioral health assessments just as they do hearing and vision screenings.
"We are trying to get care for our kids who are screaming out for the care that they need and we are not providing it and now we will be," says Democratic state Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet.
She sponsored of the legislation which Republicans opposed, claiming it infringed on parental rights. They pushed for an amendment allowing parents to opt their kids out of the screenings, but under current law, kids 12 and up can already receive therapy without their parents' permission in Colorado. The new law is aimed at expanding access to screenings in a school setting. Michaelson Jenet, who has led the fight for better mental health care for children for years, says kids who are screened in school are six times more likely to follow-through with therapy.
The law also extends the iMatter program. It was created in 2019 under a separate law by Michaelson Jenet to give all children in the state access to six free mental health therapy visits. Michaelson Jenet says 8,500 children have taken advantage of the free therapy since the law was enacted. Both the screenings and therapy visits are protected by HIPAA and are not be part of a student's school record. While schools are required to notify parents if their child receives a mental health screening and if he or she is found to be at risk of suicide or other harm, kids 12 and older can take advantage of both the assessments and iMatter therapy visits without parental consent.
"If they're going to confide in a therapist and then that therapist calls mom and dad at the end of the night, you're never going to have another therapy session," says Michaelson Jenet. "So how do we create that environment where kids can have confidential therapy, where they can have their own agency participating in that therapy and that's what this does."
Suicide is the leading cause of death for Colorado children ages 10 to 19. A 2021 state survey found 17% of kids had seriously considered suicide, nearly 40% felt sad or hopeless for two weeks straight and 27% said they did not have an adult to go to for help.
If you're thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States. Your call is confidential and free.
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. There is also a Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 (text 838255) and a Disaster Distress Helpline: 1.800.985.5990 (text TalkWithUs to 66746). You can also chat with someone online:: suicidepreventionlifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/
First, you'll hear a message telling you that you've reached the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You will hear a little hold music while they connect you with skilled, trained crisis worker who works at the Lifeline network crisis center closest to you.
