Is Colorado’s Mental Health Initiative Stalling? An In-Depth Look at Polis’ Struggles to Make Progress

Three years ago, Governor Jared Polis took a stand against Colorado’s mental health crisis. He formed the Behavioral Health Task Force and created a new agency, the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), to improve the state’s mental health care system. Many hoped this move would ensure better access for those in need.

However, the situation has hardly improved. In 2024, Colorado ranked second in the nation for mental illness prevalence. Over 530,000 adults face challenges like depression, leading to an annual cost in lost productivity between $1.16 billion and $2.52 billion. Alarmingly, state spending on mental health has dropped by $7 million between Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025.

Instead of providing centralized support, the BHA has struggled. It oversees only 7% of Colorado’s behavioral health staff and manages just 19% of the funding. Kelly Caufield from the Common Sense Institute remarked, “The BHA was created with good intentions, but it lacks the authority to allocate funds effectively.” This means it cannot direct resources where they are most needed.

The agency faced internal issues too. The first director, Dr. Morgan Medlock, was fired, and she has since filed a lawsuit claiming racial discrimination. After her departure in April 2023, further delays occurred in BHA’s establishment, with a new director announced only in February 2024.

In addition, the BHA is set to lose $31.5 million in federal grants due to budget cuts. Yet, it has made some strides. It increased transparency about funding, and its new Performance Hub provides public access to data regarding behavioral health care in Colorado.

The agency collaborates with various departments to address specific needs. For instance, it worked with the Department of Agriculture to help agricultural communities with higher suicide rates and with the Department of Corrections to enhance treatment in prisons.

Despite these efforts, many experts believe the BHA needs more control over funding and staffing decisions to truly make a difference. Caufield stated, “The mission isn’t matching reality,” suggesting a disconnection between resources and needs.

Interestingly, Fort Collins serves as a success story. In 2018, Larimer County, which includes Fort Collins, was facing high suicide rates similar to El Paso County. However, by 2023, Larimer reduced its suicide rate by over 27%, becoming the lowest among Colorado’s largest counties. In contrast, El Paso County’s rates rose by over 15% in the same timeframe.

This change is thanks in part to a county sales tax increase approved by 61% of Larimer residents, generating approximately $19 million in the first year for mental health services. With these funds, Larimer opened Colorado’s first county-owned mental health facility and prioritized mental health in a recent jail expansion.

These proactive measures might hold lessons for the BHA and the rest of Colorado. As they address mental health care’s complex challenges, local approaches like those in Larimer could provide much-needed inspiration.

For more insights on mental health funding in Colorado, visit Common Sense Institute.

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behavioral health administration, common sense institute, kelly caufield, morgan medlock, amy martonis, jared polis, behavior health task force