May 21, 2025
This Mental Health Awareness Month, El Paso County Public Health is excited to launch the Mental Health Moments toolkit, in partnership with the Youth Suicide Prevention Workgroup.
National data shows that 1 in 5 youth will experience a mental health challenge at some point in their life. In El Paso County, youth participated in a think tank, led by Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership, to learn more about how mental health impacted them, and how the community could support them. The resulting Teen Think Tank Report found that youth wanted their parents or caregivers to have a better understanding of mental health and how to have supportive conversations with them about these challenges.
As a response to this need in El Paso County, the Youth Suicide Prevention Workgroup created the Mental Health Moments toolkit. This campaign is tailored to create awareness around youth mental health through a series of short videos connecting information with local resources. These engaging videos cover some challenges that youth may face and what resources are available to better support them. By fostering a supportive environment for our youth, we can work toward reducing mental health stigma.
Join the conversation
We invite families, educators and community members to engage with us in these critical conversations. By sharing these videos, we can collectively work toward a more supportive environment for youth in our community and help them feel safe to express their thoughts and seek help when needed.
Follow the link to view our Mental Health Moments videos and help reach other community members by sharing these videos with your loved ones.
Take a Moment for Your Mental Health
This month, not only do we want to support the mental health of youth in the community, but we also want to check in our own mental wellbeing. One simple way to do that is by using the Live, Laugh Love method:
- LIVE- Are you able to follow your normal routine?
- LAUGH- Are you able to enjoy the things you’ve enjoyed in the past?
- LOVE- Are you reaching out to your support system?
- Ask yourself: Are any of these areas of concern for me or someone I know? If so, how long has this been going on? If it’s been two or more weeks, it’s a good idea to get some help.
If you, or someone you know is struggling with an emotional, mental health, or substance use concern, call, text or live chat with 988 today! https://www.988colorado.com/en
To access other mental health resources in El Paso County, visit: https://www.elpasocountyhealth.org/prevention-services/responding-to-behavioral-health-concerns-in-el-paso-county/