News
Vote YES For Mental Health - Ballot Issue 1A
On the front lines where our police officers, paramedics, nurses and physicians see mental illness and substance abuse on full display, it is scary and heartbreaking. These issues affect every age and income level in Eagle County. Our role as a community is not to judge, but to help.
Mental illness and substance abuse are community epidemics that can only be solved by working together. Vail Health Hospital has seen a staggering 243% increase in detox patients from 210 encounters in 2014 to 511 in 2016. Our suicide rates in Eagle County are double the state average. We must come together to help our own.
Currently, there is no reliable funding mechanism to adequately address our growing behavioral health issues. For the first time, we have the opportunity to enact a very real solution towards improving mental health resources in Eagle County. By taxing recreational marijuana, our community can establish $1.2 million in designated annual funding to help solve mental illness and substance abuse issues locally. These funds will not be used to build facilities, but to operate mental health walk-in clinics, respite care, crisis stabilization and social detox units through knowledgeable mental health experts.
We cannot rely on anyone outside this community to come to the rescue – we need to take care of our own. Please join me in voting YES for mental health on Eagle County Ballot 1A.
Doris Kirchner
Vail Health President & CEO
More News
-
New!
More
Strength Training and Progressive Overload for Longevity
While the pillars of longevity include lifestyle factors such as sleep, social connection, diet and environmental factors, exercise may be the most important component for improving our healthspan.
-
New!
More
Environmental Sustainability at Vail Health
With a strong focus on the connection between human and environmental health, Vail Health’s Environmental Sustainability department has been committed to becoming more energy efficient, diverting more waste from landfill, and reducing water consumption throughout its facilities. Their efforts are paying off.
-
More
Simple Tips for Extending Your Healthspan at 60+
As we grow older, it’s essential to adjust our habits to not only add years to our lives but also to enhance the quality of those years. One of the best ways to extend your healthspan is by embracing the Five Pillars of Health, which focus on key areas of well-being that support physical, mental, and emotional health.