The 5 Biggest Mental Health Concerns in Colorado

Considering Colorado is one of the worst states in the U.S. when it comes to mental health concerns— particularly in children and young adults — keeping a sharp eye on warning signs for depression, bipolar disorder, and social anxiety in teens is more important than ever.

According to a report conducted by Mental Health America, comparing all 50 states and Washington D.C. and weighing factors like mental health issues overall and access to treatment, The Centennial State ranked 43rd. Additionally, 19.55 percent of Colorado residents live with some sort of mental illness, outlined in data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. That’s the third-highest rate in the U.S.

Battling major depression and anxiety, opioid and other drug abuse, suicide rates, and high numbers of adolescents reporting mental health issues, Colorado is faced with an increasingly daunting task. The report by Mental Health America added Colorado was dead last among states with kids and adolescents dependent on drugs and alcohol. The pandemic didn’t help matters either: since May 2020, more than three in ten U.S. adults have reported struggling with anxiety or depression, compared to one in ten in 2019.

So what are the most pressing mental health issues in the state today? Statistics from the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2022 outline which of Colorado’s issues are the most urgent compared to the national average.

Anxiety and/or Depressive Disorders

According to the report detailing the share of adults dealing with symptoms of anxiety and depression, Colorado reported a rate of 32 percent, which is more than the national average: of 31.6 percent.

But the pandemic can’t be blamed for the lion’s share; In 2018-19, 23.2 percent of Colorado adults had one form of mental illness, compared to the U.S. average of 19.9 percent. In the same time span, 8.5 percent of adults in the state reported having a major depressive episode in the past year, compared to 7.5 percent nationally, with 15 percent of adolescents in the state compared to 15.1 nationally.

This is the most common concern in the state, and while not seen as deadly as other, more severe issues, anxiety and depression are known as silent killers.

Referred to as using illicit drugs or meeting criteria that qualifies for alcohol dependence or abuse, substance abuse disorder is of high importance in Colorado and the rest of the U.S. The list below details some pandemic-induced statistics about the national substance abuse problem.

15.1 percent of U.S. adults reported new or increased substance use due to pandemic-related stress in September 2020.
Drug-related deaths also increased from over 72,000 deaths nationally in 2019 to over 93,000 deaths in 2020.
The recent uptick in substance use and related deaths disproportionately affected many people of color, although White people continue to account for the largest share of deaths due to drug overdose per year.
Deaths due to drug overdose have increased in Colorado by nearly 10 points in only five years — from 16.8 per 100,000 in 2015 to 26.0 per 100,000 in 2020. The U.S. number in 2020 was 28.3 per 100,000, for comparison.

The CDC indicates opioid overdoses have been a primary driver of the fivefold increase in deaths due to drug overdose in the U.S. between 2000 and 2020. Colorado numbers are detailed below:

In 2020, there were 987 opioid overdose deaths in Colorado, which accounted for 65.3 percent of all drug overdose deaths in the state.
From 2009 to 2019, the age-adjusted death rate due to opioid overdose increased from 7.7 per 100,000 to 10.6 per 100,000 in Colorado, compared to 6.6 per 100,000 to 15.5 per 100,000 in the U.S over the same period.
In Colorado, prior to the pandemic, 0.8 percent of people age 12 or older reported opioid dependence or abuse in the past year.
2.0 percent of adolescents and 8.8 percent of adults in Colorado (compared to 1.6 percent and 5.7 percent, nationally) reported having alcohol use disorder in the past year.
4.7 percent of adolescents and 5.0 percent of adults in Colorado reported having an illicit drug use disorder in the past year (compared to 3.2 percent and 3.0 percent nationally).

Suicide

An increasingly growing public health threat, suicide largely effects families in every state. Between 2009 and 2019, Colorado’s age-adjusted suicide rate was nearly 10 points higher than the national average per 100,000 residents, sitting at 22.1 compared to 13.9 nationally.

Though generally believed to be a result of underlying mental health issues, data has found that to not always be true. Isolation is a major risk factor for the possibility of suicide, making the heart of the pandemic a dangerous time for those prone to suicidal thoughts.

In September 2020, 11.9 percent of U.S adults reported serious thoughts of suicide in the past month, however, suicide deaths in the U.S. decreased by 5.6 percent from 2019 to 2020.
In 2018-2019, 5.5 percent of adults in Colorado had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year, which was similar to the U.S. share (4.6 percent).
In 2019, suicide was the second leading cause of death among adolescents (ages 12-17) across the U.S.
In the U.S., the share of high school students who seriously considered attempting suicide was 18.8 percent in 2019.

Mental Health Workforce & Accessible Treatment

Colorado’s resources for dealing with mental health issues are a major concern, especially compared to national averages, where Colorado often falls short. Access to mental health professionals like psychiatrists, addiction counselors, and other specialists in the state is gravely needed.

According to the report, Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations are used to identify areas that are experiencing a shortage of health professionals.

Studies show the percent of need for mental health professionals met in Colorado is 34.7 percent, compared to the national percent of need met (28.1 percent). Colorado needs reinforcements.
Among adults in Colorado who reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder, 33.6 percent reported needing counseling/therapy but not receiving it in the past four weeks, compared to the U.S. average of 26.9 percent.
In Colorado, 69.8 percent of adults with mild mental illness, 51.2 percent of adults with moderate mental illness, and 27.7 percent of adults with serious mental illness in the past year did not receive mental health treatment.
Prior to the pandemic, in 2018-2019, 9.4 percent of adults in Colorado reported an unmet need for mental health treatment in the past year, which was higher than the U.S. share of 6.2 percent.
Among adults in Colorado who reported an unmet need for mental health treatment in the past year, 41.8 percent did not receive care because of cost, which was similar to the U.S. share of 39.7 percent.
In 2020, 10.5 percent of children ages 3-17 in Colorado received mental health care in the past year, compared to 10.8 percent of children in the U.S.

Conclusion on mental health concerns

Remaining vigilant and staying on top of symptoms early can improve the chances of receiving appropriate care. With telehealth resources on the rise nationally, there are more options for help than ever before. Residential treatment options for children, teens, and adults can be expensive but worth the cost for your mental health.