Bills for Suicide Prevention in Colorado Pass House

Two House bills have recently passed in Colorado and aim to create a better critical behavior health support system for Coloradans in need. Both bills are aimed toward helping people in crisis by providing the support and resources they need.

The first is bill SB21-154, which would implement the 988 national suicide prevention lifeline for Colorado residents. In October of 2020, Congress passed a new act that designated the number 988 as the national lifeline for suicide prevention, making the lifeline more accessible for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. This bill would ensure that Coloradans would have access to this extension, where they would be provided with crisis outreach, stabilization, and care that are all focused on suicide prevention.

The second bill is SB21-239, which will expand the 2-1-1 Statewide Human Services Referral System. It approximates a $1 million expansion of the referral system. This expansion would include referrals for behavioral health services and other resources in the state of Colorado. This extension would ensure that the people of Colorado will have access to more mental health services in a faster and more efficient manner. This bill also connects Coloradans who do not have health benefits or who are unemployed to mental and behavioral health services they can use.

Both of these bills passed unanimously in the House, which highlights the need for a more accessible system for people in Colorado experiencing a crisis. Far too many people are without resources and do not even have a phone number to call when they are already experiencing a mental health crisis and need immediate assistance. These bills will actively prevent a significant amount of deaths by suicide by providing callers with the resources and help that they need. These two bills are a step towards implementing more life saving legislation in the state of Colorado.