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Campaign helps to address mental health through community connection

The City of Colorado Springs, in collaboration with Councilmember David Leinweber and several community partners, is launching the 1,000 Neighborhood Gatherings initiative, which aims to help address mental health by encouraging residents to connect with one another through gatherings and build a social support system in their own neighborhoods.

The initiative encourages residents to step out of their homes and host neighborhood gatherings to cultivate a sense of community and connection. By hosting a neighborhood gathering, individuals are taking an important step toward building a stronger, healthier community.

"It’s one of my priorities to raise awareness about the importance of mental health while providing concrete action and resources for community members,” said Mayor Yemi Mobolade. “Strong communities are built on the foundation of connectedness with our neighbors. By fostering a welcoming and supportive environment, we can lift each other up and create a sense of belonging that is essential for overall well-being.” 

"As I've engaged with our community, I've been inundated with personal accounts of individuals succumbing to isolation and loneliness,” said David Leinweber, City Council, At Large. “This initiative isn't just about numbers—it's about a thousand stories intertwining, a thousand hands reaching out, and a thousand hearts uniting against isolation while fostering stronger connections within our community." 

The initiative also delivers on an action item in Mayor Yemi’s 2024 Strategic Doing Framework under the key priority of Community Activation, which aims to “enhance the City’s work through community partnerships and engagement with a focus on mental health.”  

The initiative officially launches May 18-19 during Mental Health Awareness Month and will run through Sept. 28 on National Good Neighbor Day. Residents can register their gathering to count toward the goal of 1,000 neighborhood gatherings.

For more information on how to host a neighborhood gathering or to get involved with the initiative, visit ColoradoSprings.gov/1000Gatherings.

Mental Health Statistics

  • 25% of adult Coloradans over the age of 18 reported having any mental health condition in the past year1
  • 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental health illness each year2
  • 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year3
  • 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 244
  • From 2020-2022, suicide was the leading cause of death among youth ages 11 to 17 and the second leading cause of death among young adults 18-245
  • More than 50% of El Paso County residents reported not receiving mental health services they felt they needed because they did not think health insurance would cover it6
  • Nearly 20% of El Paso County residents reported 8 or more days of poor mental health in the past 30 days (2019 and 2021 combined)7
  • Among people in the U.S. under age 18, depressive disorders are the most common cause of hospitalization8
  • In Colorado, 26.9% of homeless individuals reported having a serious mental health illness such as depression, bipolar disorders, and substance abuse disorders; nationally, approximately 49% of the unsheltered homeless population had severe mental illness in 20239
  1. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt39465/2021NSDUHPercents_ExcelTabsCSVs110322/2021NSDUHsaePercentsTabs110322.pdf
  2. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt39443/2021NSDUHFFRRev010323.pdf
  3. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2724377?guestAccessKey=f689aa19-31f1-481d-878a-6bf83844536a
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15939837
  5. https://cdphe.colorado.gov/center-for-health-and-environmental-data/registries-and-vital-statistics/vital-statistics-program
  6. Colorado Health Institute. Colorado Health Access Survey 2019 and 2021 combined. Available from: https://www.coloradohealthins�tute.org/programs/colorado-health-access-survey
  7. Colorado Health Institute. Colorado Health Access Survey 2019 and 2021 combined. Available from: https://www.coloradohealthins�tute.org/programs/colorado-health-access-survey
  8. https://datatools.ahrq.gov/hcup-fast-stats
  9. https://files.hudexchange.info/reports/published/CoC_PopSub_NatlTerrDC_2023.pdf
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