For many students and their families, back-to-school season is exciting and anxiety-producing.
This year, the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) is working with schools and communities across the state to highlight resources that can help students start the year strong and thrive, both mentally and academically.
“When children and youth have easy access to high-quality mental and behavioral health support, our school environments and families get stronger,” said Dr. Kelly Causey, BHA deputy commissioner.
I Matter is the state’s flagship program supporting youth mental health, offering free therapy sessions, regardless of insurance coverage, to students across the state, both in-person and virtually.
Since its launch in 2021, nearly 70,000 free sessions were provided to more than 16,000 children across all 64 counties in Colorado.
To get connected with a trusted provider, parents and students can visit the I Matter website in English and in Spanish (imattercolorado.org and yoimportocolorado.org), and sign up for the I Matter newsletter to stay up to date on new information and resources.
The BHA continues to raise awareness for this vital program through ongoing collaboration with schools, providing educational and promotional materials so that students and families know that they are never alone when they need support the most.
For kids and parents who may be struggling, the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line complements I Matter with immediate, 24/7 support for emotional, mental health or substance use concerns.
For the first time this year, thanks to recent legislation making 988 Colorado’s primary 24/7 lifeline, the 988 resource will appear on student ID cards across the state alongside Safe2Tell contact information.
For more information, visit bha.colorado.gov/gethelp.
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