With the rollback of the emergency declaration prompted by the Omicron variant outbreak, the seven-member Basalt Town Council met in person for the first time this year at its regular meeting. The public broadcast of the meeting, which was covered remotely by The Sopris Sun, was delayed and repeatedly hampered by audio and visual technical […]
Mental Health
Posted inNews, Uncategorized
Aspen Strong offers much-needed ‘Time to Talk’
Aspen Strong’s mental health peer support group, “Time to Talk,” began in December 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by “providing people with a space to come, connect and talk about whatever they’re going through. To find a space where they could share their stories openly and find the resources that they needed,” explained […]
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Addressing the "line in the sand"
Michelle Muething, executive director of the Aspen Hope Center, referred to the current mental health challenges for many living in the Roaring Fork Valley as, “everyone’s line in the sand has decreased, and is very, very close to where they step every day on a regular basis” because of increased stress, anxiety and depression. She […]
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CO mental health bills increase support
Several bills focusing on the mental wellness of Coloradans, many of which garnered bipartisan support, were passed by lawmakers in the 2021 legislative session and signed into law by Governor Jared Polis. The Behavioral Health Recovery Act (SB21-1371) is a $114 million omnibus bill, with $100 million coming from the federal American Rescue Plan Act […]
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Reducing harm with compassionate care
How many of us have lost a loved one to addiction? The prevalence of drug overdoses, almost always unintentional, is a continuing tragedy in the Roaring Fork Valley. According to recent data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020 saw a 42.4% increase in drug-related overdose deaths in Colorado compared to 2019. In […]
Posted inColumns, Uncategorized
Medicine for my mind
In honor of May as Mental Health Month, The Sopris Sun is running a series of personal columns by regular contributors. Mental health is an inextricable part of the human experience. If one’s psychological well-being goes unchecked, it can lead to depression and conflict – and on a macro level, even war. Perhaps its drawbacks […]
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High Risk at High Altitude sheds light on mental wellness
In a valley prone to mental health crisis and high suicide rates, newly appointed Aspen Public Radio (APR) news director Ariel Van Cleave has arrived with a fresh take on mental health support. Growing up in rural Illinois, Van Cleave was aware of the increased risks for mental health crises rural communities often experience. However, […]