Mental Health

I Matter

The State of Colorado recently implemented a new crisis health line for students.

If you’ve ever said, ”I’m struggling. I want help,“ you are in the right place. The purpose of I Matter is to promote youth emotional and mental health. To begin, you will need to take a survey. Try to be honest as possible: your answers are completely confidential and will help match you with a clinician who can best support you. No matter your responses, you will be eligible for 3 free counseling sessions. The State of Colorado is implementing a new crisis health line for students. 

Get started by clicking the link above. If you’re 11 or younger, your parent or guardian will have to fill out the survey with you.

Parents, if you feel your child is struggling and needs help, you are in the right place to talk to a mental health professional for free. Seeking support for your child is not a sign of failure—it’s a sign of strength. Start by clicking the link below, which will take you to the State survey website. 

Click here for more information.

Colorado House Bill 21-1258 established this temporary behavioral health services program to provide access to mental health and substance use disorder services for youth, including addressing needs that may have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is open to youth 18 years of age or younger (or 21 years of age or younger if receiving special education services).

The program, called I Matter, is funded by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health. The program provides up to 3 free behavioral health sessions for youth in Colorado and reimburses participating providers, which are licensed clinicians from agencies and independent contractors.

The I Matter program also has a statewide public awareness and outreach campaign that includes digital ads on platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat, and on-the-ground outreach to schools and youth organizations. Both the awareness campaign and the IMatterColorado.org website were informed by youth feedback.

Governor Jared Polis signed the bipartisan legislation, which dedicated $9 million to the program as part of the Polis-Primavera administration’s Colorado Comeback roadmap. The program is funded until June 30, 2022.