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Mental Health America of Colorado, incorporated in 1953, began setting the stage for mental health leadership in our state. Since our founding that year, we have been changing community attitudes about mental health; replacing the one time hopelessness of a mental health diagnosis with hope, recovery and fulfilled lives.
1950s
On August 21, 1953, the Colorado Association for Mental Health (CAMH) was incorporated under the leadership of President Jane Woodhouse. Two years later, CAMH became the 34th state affiliate of the National Association for Mental Health (NAMH), now known as Mental Health America.
Our original goals were to focus public attention on the issues of mental health, to secure additional funding for treatment and research, and to provide information to the community about mental health.
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1960s
In 1963, Governor John praised Colorado's mental health program and stressed the importance of prevention and early diagnosis of mental health conditions. In early 1963, CAMH helped Colorado become one of the first five states in the country to receive a Federal Planning Grant from the National Institute on Mental Health to establish long-range planning for mental health services. In 1961 a CAMH program called “Operation Friendship,” aimed at eliminating the stigma associated with mental health, bussed several hundred visitors to Colorado State Hospital at Pueblo to tour the facilities and socialize with some of the patients in the center.
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1970s
The movement away from hospitals and toward community mental health centers was in full swing in the 1970s. The 1970s also ushered in patients' rights, the passage of a mandatory mental health insurance law, and growth in confronting stigma. At CAMH's 1971 annual meeting, members voted to change the name of the Colorado Association for Mental Health to Mental Health America of Colorado (MHAC). MHAC's policy agenda reflected the heightened focus on community-level services popular in the 1970’s. MHAC supported the maintenance and improvement of present levels of mental health services throughout the state, in both the Community Mental Health programs and institutional settings, and the establishment of a full-scale Community Mental Health facility on the western slope. In January 1970, MHAC opened a southern regional office in Pueblo to serve chapters in the southern part of the state and to provide for expansion of program and fund raising activities in a 14-county area.Prior to July 1, 1975, people committed to state mental hospitals would lose their rights. One of MHAC's most notable achievements is the work that it completed in partnership with the state Division of Mental Health in 1977 to reinstate the rights of more than 3,000 former patients including the right to apply for a driver’s license, a marriage license, to sign a legal contract and the right to vote.
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1980s
During the 1980’s MHAC was at the forefront of addressing the concerns that mental health services were inadequate and difficult to access. In 1985, the Mayor of Denver, Federico Pena, created the Denver Community Mental Health Commission to create a comprehensive, integrated community mental health system and to make recommendations to the state on programs and funding for community mental health. 1986 brought the inception of MHAC’s signature community service: the Pro Bono Mental Health Program. The Program recruits mental health professionals to provide free mental health services to the homeless and low-income adults, children and families. Volunteers are matched with host-site agencies throughout the Metro Denver area, where the program is delivered. The first of its kind in the nation, the Pro Bono program has become a nationally recognized model program. In October 1989, the Pro Bono Program was selected from among 104 entries nationwide to receive a national Significant Achievement award from the 41st Institute of Hospital and Community Psychiatry of the American Psychiatric Association.
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1990s
The first three years of the 1990s were dominated by two themes: reform and public awareness.Passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 1990, extended civil rights protections and prohibited discrimination in the private sector. The ADA defined people with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. MHAC was heavily involved with compiling and distributing information about ADA. In 1993, MHAC received a $150,000 grant to establish a Colorado Chapter of the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health; a highly acclaimed, parent-run advocacy organization. This allowed MHAC to significantly expand its Family Advocacy Program and reach out to more parents of children with mental health conditions. Still in operation today, the Colorado Chapter of the Federation of Families is evidence of the significant community impact made by MHAC’s programs.Toward the end of the 90's and into the 21st century, MHAC has developed a strong relationship with an umbrella organization for the statewide consumer organization, the Wellness and Education Coalition and Advocacy Network of Colorado (WE CAN!). We Can! is a collaboration made up of consumers, MHAC, CHARG, and State Mental Health services. Under the direction of MHAC, WE CAN’s Leadership Academy program has expanded its training to include advanced advocacy training. MHAC’s Public Policy program also developed their training, with the goal that at least ten mental health consumers will testify at the state capitol each year. The hope was that ultimately every legislator in the state would have a relationship with a constituent who calls themselves a WE CAN! member.
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The 21st Century
MHAC has worked hard to publicize the needs of the mental health system since our founding days. In 2005, MHAC and several partners published the Summit Report detailing the impact of recent state budget cuts on mental health and substance abuse. In short, this report illustrated all of the ways our society and economy are impacted by untreated mental health and substance abuse issues. This report was instrumental in the legislative process, and in 2006, Referendum C was passed, restoring some of the funding and services that were lost in the earlier cuts. A major focus during the first decade of the 21st century has been to achieve equal health coverage of physical and mental health conditions. This is often referred to as “parity.” MHAC led legislation efforts in 2007 to increase insurance benefits for mental health conditions; a dream that was realized when Governor Bill Ritter signed Senate Bill 36 into law.
We look forward to the future with hope. We look forward to leading the way for people with mental health conditions to realize their full potential and live their most fulfilling lives. We look forward to health, prevention and wellness for everyone. We look forward to Bringing Wellness Home...in Colorado.
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Evolution of a Brand
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