Redefining Mental Health
For a Healthier Future
For more than four decades, we've been leaders in innovative mental and behavioral health education, training and service. Now, we're expanding our efforts across Colorado in order to meet the social needs of the communities we serve. We're hoping to ignite conversations and action that change the ways in which we treat and talk about mental health.
It's all part of a community-based, collaborative approach to treat mental health holistically, end stigmatization around seeking care and ensure universal access to essential services and resources. We call it Redefining Mental Health.
Hear from Dean Shelly Smith-Acuña about how we're putting psychology to work in our complex world.
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Normalizing the Conversation
Mental health issues often carry with them significant stigma, particularly in communities where the need is greatest. We're working to normalize the conversation so that anyone in need of mental health resources feels comfortable discussing their issues and finding help.
Psychology for a Complex World
It's essential that psychologists and mental health practitioners develop the cultural and linguistic competencies necessary to serve diverse communities. We're working to create a model for mental health that works at the community level.
Why Redefine Mental Health
All too frequently, acknowledging and receiving treatment for mental health challenges is stigmatized, which can be particularly harmful for vulnerable populations. Compounding that problem is the fact that treatments often lack cultural and linguistic competency, and accessibility is regularly undervalued. We hope to redefine mental health as an integral element of an individual's well-being.
What's more, we aim to normalize conversations around mental health to reduce stigma encourage anyone facing mental health challenges to seek help. Our students, faculty and researchers are helping create a truly modern vision of mental health care, one that honors diverse communities, reduces barriers, and enhances resources.
