Powell County Memorial Hospital Association

Partners for Children's Mental Health (PCMH) is a community-facing center established by Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Our mission is to bring communities together to build a mental health system that better serves all children, youth, and families. We envision a future where all children and youth have the mental health care and support they need to thrive.

Colorado is facing an unprecedented youth mental health crisis. Suicide is the number one cause of death among middle and high school students. Moreover, more than a third of Colorado high school students experience persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. The numbers are even more alarming among LGBTQ+ youth, where the rate of feeling sad or hopeless doubles. At PCMH, we believe that change is possible.

Our Mission

Our mission is to bring communities together to build a mental health system that better serves all children, youth, and families. We aim to create a future where all children and youth have the mental health care and support they need to thrive.

Our Vision

Our vision is to create a mental health system that provides the necessary care and support for all children, youth, and families. We want to enable all children and youth to reach their full potential and live meaningful lives.

Training Trusted Adults

Nearly one-third of Colorado youth do not have an adult they can go to for help with a serious problem. Through our trainings and programs, we aim to give "trusted adults" the knowledge, skills, confidence, and resources they need to address the youth mental health crisis. We focus on high-impact places, especially in schools and primary care, where trusted adults interact with at-risk youth. Since 2020, we have trained thousands of youth-serving professionals to increase their capacity to identify, intervene, and support a kid at risk for suicide.

As a center, we are implementing what we know works while also accelerating research to expand what we know. Our approach to suicide prevention includes training and consultation to help practices implement a youth suicide prevention care pathway and deliver suicide-safer care. We offer live and on-demand trainings that give you the knowledge, confidence, and resources to support youth mental health.

Suicide Prevention in Primary Care

For a youth at risk for suicide, a primary care visit may be the only chance to access needed care. Through our Pathway to Suicide Prevention program, we offer training and consultation to help practices implement a youth suicide prevention care pathway and deliver suicide-safer care. The program provides best practices and resources for primary care providers to assess, manage, and respond to youth suicide risk effectively.

Suicide Prevention in Schools

Schools play a vital role in identifying and supporting youth with mental health challenges. We offer training and support to school personnel to enhance their capacity to identify and respond to youth suicide risk. Our school-based suicide prevention programs include training on recognizing warning signs, responding to suicide threats, and implementing evidence-based interventions.

Our Five Core Functions

Our work is guided by five core functions:

1. Engagement and Collaboration: We prioritize developing key partnerships and a unified vision around children's mental health.

2. Awareness and Education: We educate and raise awareness about children's mental health and the importance of early intervention.

3. Identification and Assessment: We promote the identification and assessment of children's mental health needs.

4. Intervention and Treatment: We support evidence-based interventions and treatment for children's mental health.

5. Systems Development and Improvement: We work to strengthen the mental health system's capacity to respond effectively to children's mental health needs.