Mental Health is All of Us.
The Pikes Peak Region, like many places in the United States, faces a mental health crisis. Stress, depression, isolation, loneliness, and even suicide affect us, our community, and those we love. Pikes Peak Rising is a collaborative effort of over 40 different organizations representing business, behavioral health, primary care, education, suicide prevention, substance use disorder, older adults, military, faith, LGBTQ+, youth, and mental health areas, as well as organizations serving diverse demographics.
Together, the City of Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Rising Collaborative are working together to connect people to the help they need, build a more resilient community, and become the leading city on mental health and wellness in the United States.
Pikes Peak Rising focuses on 3 goals
Goal #1: Education and awareness
- Normalizing mental health conversations through public advocacy by Mayor Yemi Mobolade and First Lady Abbey Mobolade
- Partnering with El Paso County Public Health on Pikes Peak Rising 360, the state’s first portal directing people to self-care, assessment, and access to local providers.
- Formed the Pikes Peak Rising Business Collective, a growing coalition of local employers committed to promoting mental health and suicide prevention in the workplace.
- Undertaking H.O.P.E. Certification as a City of Colorado Springs government to learn about, implement, and model best practices around workplace mental health practices.
Goal #2: Collaborative partnerships
- Collaborate with El Paso County Public Health to promote and elevate efforts around the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), and their focus on Overcoming Barriers to Care and Suicide Prevention,
- Activated a Legislative Briefing Team to collaborate with local, state and federal policy makers to support legislation and policies and testifying on efforts that promote mental health.
- Work with local and regional providers as well as our local military communities to improve access to care and reduce suicide among service members, veterans and their families.
Goal #3: Social support systems
- Launched “1000 Neighborhood Gatherings” to address isolation through 1000 neighborhood gatherings for increased community, safety, and resiliency. One of the 6 Pillars of Suicide Prevention, according to the Colorado-National Collaborative on Suicide Prevention is CONNECTEDNESS: Connectedness is the degree to which an individual or group of individuals are socially close, interrelated, supportive, or share resources. Social and structural connectedness can be formed within and between individuals, families, schools, neighborhoods, workplaces, faith communities, cultural groups and society as a whole
- Support and promote Community Events and Programs addressing Mental Health in the community, such as Sober Week and GRIT training.
- Bringing small businesses together to participate in QPR Suicide Prevention Trainings and promote the 988 Mental Health lifeline to employees and customers.
Innovative programs
The Behavioral Health 360 platform is a free online platform from El Paso County Public Health that promotes mental health awareness and community engagement, fostering preventive measures, early intervention, self-care and screening. The first-of-its-kind public platform brings together expert-rated and vetted information all in one easy-to-use place.
The GRIT program strengthens individual resiliency and equips trainees to “coach” others in their social groups. It was developed out of the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
GRIT is grounded in the science of empowerment — but is not meant to replace professional help.
Last year gatherings of residents were held in all 77 of the City’s neighborhoods. 47% of hosts also said they felt more equipped to connect others with mental health resources in the community and 49% were more aware of how their community was being impacted by mental health than before hosting.
We are continuing this initiative in 2025, encouraging neighbors to connect with one another to address social isolation and loneliness-- contributing to better community resilience. We can all play a part to make a positive impact on mental health – right where you live, on your own block, in your own neighborhood.
Research shows that volunteering offers significant health benefits, including improved mental and physical health, providing a sense of purpose and connecting people in community. When people volunteer, stress is reduced, physical health is improved and rates of depression are lowered, especially for people 65 and older. Whether you volunteer to fulfill responsibilities, meet new people, gain experience or improve the lives of your fellow residents, our City has opportunities for you.
Our partners
Along with the City of Colorado Springs, El Paso County Public Health and UCCS, other collaborators on Pikes Peak Rising include:
- Anschutz Consortium
- Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado
- Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado
- Children’s Hospital Colorado
- City of Colorado Springs
- Colorado Mental Health Consortium
- Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC
- Colorado Springs Conservatory
- Colorado Springs Health Foundation
- CommonSpirit
- Community Health Alliance
988 Colorado Mental Health Line
The 988 Colorado Mental Health Line (988) is the easy-to-remember number that allows anyone with emotional, mental health, or substance use concerns to be immediately connected with a trained specialist. 988 offers free, immediate, confidential human support 24/7. If you or someone you know is struggling, with an emotional, mental health or substance use concern, call or text 988 or visit 988Colorado.com to live chat.
City of Colorado Springs receives the Suicide Prevention Collaborative of Colorado Community Leadership Award
The Suicide Prevention Collaborative of Colorado (SPCC) gives the Colorado Community Leadership Award to recognize and celebrate a municipalities' dedicated efforts in preventing suicide and promoting mental health within their communities. This award honors local leaders who collaborate with their communities and lawmakers to implement impactful initiatives, programs, and policies that reduce the incidence of suicide and its profound effects on individuals and families.
Under the leadership of Mayor Yemi Mobolade and Councilmember David Leinweber, the City has been recognized by the SPCC as a statewide model for how municipalities can prioritize mental well-being—both in government and in the workplace. Through innovative programming and compassionate community engagement, Colorado Springs fosters a culture of connection, support, and resilience.
The City has also worked closely with the Suicide Prevention Collaborative of El Paso County, strengthening local partnerships, aligning regional strategies, and expanding the impact of community-based suicide prevention efforts.
Among the City’s most impactful contributions that the SPCC recognized:
- Pikes Peak Rising, a regional partnership with El Paso County Public Health to enhance access and coordination in mental health services.
- The Mayor’s Mental Health Initiative, normalizing mental health conversations and embedding suicide prevention into citywide practices.
- The 1,000 Neighborhood Gatherings, cultivating stronger social ties and reducing isolation across diverse communities.
- Bringing small businesses together to participate in QPR suicide prevention trainings and promote the 988 mental health lifeline to employees and customers.
- HOPE Certification participation, exemplifying a commitment to workplace mental health best practices.
- Authentic public advocacy by Mayor Mobolade and First Lady Abbey Mobolade, courageously sharing personal mental health journeys to combat stigma.
- Facilitating military installation mental health meetings, fostering deeper partnerships and support for suicide prevention efforts among military members, their families, and the broader region.
“Everyone is on a journey, and sometimes that means you or someone next to you needs help from time to time. I know I do! I want you to know that you are not alone. The collaboration of Pikes Peak Rising is to establish a dynamic, local place to share resources, tools, and help - in a way that makes sense for you! No matter your trials or situation, hope is always here. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, we too can grab on to hope and look to the light. Together, we can rise.”
- Abbey Mobolade, nurse educator, mother of three young children and wife of Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade
"Public Health's goal is to promote mental well-being, working collaboratively to highlight the importance of connecting people to credible resources to positively impact quality of life while increasing resilience to navigate life's ups and downs. We appreciate the multidisciplinary organizations who are part of this collective effort—and look forward to building additional partnerships across all El Paso County municipalities—to provide a new online resource to connect people to self-help through curated, evidence-based resources."
-Susan Wheelan, MBA, Executive Director of El Paso County Public Health
"When mental health crises are not addressed as a community, the ripple effects include higher crime rates, stretched hospital resources, deteriorating parks, and escalating community costs, jeopardizing the safety and well-being of all residents. I'm proud to support PIkes Peak Rising and thankful to the dozens of community partners that are collaborating on this important initiative."