Douglas County, AdventHealth partner to expand mental health support

Douglas County and AdventHealth have joined forces to widen mental-health support across the county, but the public rollout centered on awareness, outreach and stigma reduction rather than new services, added funding or a timetable for shorter waits. The partnership, announced May 13, came one day after the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners adopted a resolution recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month.

County leaders said the effort links Douglas County’s long-running behavioral health work with AdventHealth’s Whole Person Health approach, which treats mind, body and spirit together. Douglas County said it first launched the Douglas County Mental Health Collaborative in 2014 to confront unmet mental and behavioral health needs through community collaboration. Commissioner Kevin VanWinkle urged residents to check in on friends, family members, neighbors and children, and said everyone has mental health and help is available.

The need is stark. Douglas County said more than 18% of residents reported poor mental health in 2023, a figure the county translated to roughly 70,000 people experiencing 14 or more mentally unwell days each month. Local officials also pointed to Colorado public-health guidance that says suicide is a leading cause of death for the state’s youth and young adults, underscoring why early intervention matters for schools, families and crisis response.

Michelle Fuentes, chief executive of AdventHealth Castle Rock, said mental health is an essential part of whole-person health, aligning the hospital system with the county’s broader public-health message. The announcement said the partnership will emphasize education, outreach and collaboration so residents of all ages can find support sooner, but it did not detail specific new programs, access points or wait-time reductions. For parents, educators and people already trying to navigate behavioral-health care, those are the details that will determine whether the partnership changes daily life or remains mostly a statement of intent.

The county’s new push also builds on a pattern of May observances. Douglas County previously proclaimed May 1 through May 31, 2025, as Mental Health Awareness Month, and Mental Health America, which founded the observance in 1949, is marking 2026 with the theme “More Good Days, Together.” For anyone in crisis, Colorado’s Office of Suicide Prevention says to call or text 988, or use the 988 Colorado live chat.