Aurora Mental Health Breaks Ground On $38.4 Million Crisis And Acute Care Center

A wide range of political leaders representing Aurora just led a groundbreaking ceremony for a new mental health facility in the city.

Dozens gathered on a sunny morning as representatives from Aurora Mental Health and elected officials like Rep. Jason Crow, state Sen. Rhonda Fields and other local political leaders symbolically wore white hard hats and shoveled dirt. They celebrated the first step to bringing more mental health care to community members.

Crow spoke about the importance of funding services like this, and how he was able to help get $3 million from the Congressional Appropriations Fund to help finance this project. Other funding sources include Arapahoe County, which committed $5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to support this project. The total cost of the project was estimated at $38.4 million last year.

“There isn’t a family or a person in this group here that hasn’t been impacted by the mental health crisis,” Crow said.“Mental health has been one of my top priorities in the last four years…I’m going to continue to funnel money towards mental health and towards public safety as much as I possibly can.”

Fields, who represents Adams and Arapahoe Counties, also spoke about the importance of mental health care.

“I don’t know about you, but I know a lot of people who are dealing with a lot of stuff. I just want to say, it’s OK to ask for help,” Fields said.

According to data from KFF, in 2021 30% of Colorado adults reported feeling symptoms of anxiety or depression compared to the national average of 32%. Suicide rates in the country have also been increasing since 2011.

In 2021, for every 100,000 Colorado adults, 23 people would commit suicide. This is higher than the national average of 14. The rate of suicide deaths have increased among people of color, younger individuals and people who live in rural areas.

The plot of land for the new facility was purchased in the mid-2020, according to the press statement from Aurora Mental Health and Recovery. The new Crisis and Acute Care Center will be built on a seven acre property at 1290 S. Potomac Street, adjacent to the Medical Center of Aurora. It is slated to open in late 2025.

Aurora Mental Health’s objective is to create and provide a “one stop access” for mental health care, according to the press statement. The new facility will include a walk-in clinic, crisis stabilization unit and withdrawal management services.

Source: Sentinel Colorado