Colorado SJR 13: Recognize Youth Mental Health Action Day
Status: House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments (as of 2026-03-03)
State: Colorado · Session: 2026A · Bill: SJR 13
Subjects: Public Health
Sponsors: C. Simpson, K. Stewart, A. Boesenecker, A. Hartsook, A. Paschal, B. Kirkmeyer, B. Marshall, B. Pelton, B. Titone, C. Clifford, C. Espenoza, C. Kipp, C. Kolker, C. Richardson, D. Johnson, D. Roberts, D. Woog, E. Hamrick, E. Sirota, E. Velasco, G. Rydin, I. Jodeh, J. Amabile, J. Bacon, J. Bridges
Bill Text
Second Regular Session Seventy-fifth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED LLS NO. R26-0689.01 Jordan Fox x4755 SJR26-013 Senate Committees House Committees SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 26-013 CONCERNING THE RECOGNITION OF YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH ACTION101 DAY.102 WHEREAS, The youth of Colorado are calling upon Colorado's1 elected officials to prioritize policies that support youth mental health and2 well-being; and3 WHEREAS, Colorado is facing a youth mental health crisis, which4 has long-term ripple effects on our state's education, public safety,5 carceral, and economic systems; and6 WHEREAS, Colorado ranks 41st in the nation for youth mental7 health per the nonprofit Mental Health America; and8 SENATE SPONSORSHIP Simpson, HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Stewart K., Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment. Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law. Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. WHEREAS, Pediatric professionals who support youth found in1 the 2023 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey that about 1 in 4 Colorado high2 school students reported feeling consistently sad or hopeless; and3 WHEREAS, Despite the department of public health and4 environment's office of suicide prevention finding decreases in Colorado5 youth seriously considering suicide and planning suicide attempts in6 recent years, our state still sees disproportionately higher rates of suicide7 compared to the rest of the country, with suicide being a leading cause of8 death among Colorado children under 18; and9 WHEREAS, Data from the National Library of Medicine shows10 that between 10% and 16% of young children (ages 2 to 8) have a11 diagnosed mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder; and12 WHEREAS, More than 1 in 5 middle school students reported13 poor mental health in the 2023 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey; and14 WHEREAS, Children and youth face stigmas related to mental15 health needs that may prevent them from seeking the support and services16 they need; and17 WHEREAS, Research from the Colorado School of Public Health18 found that early identification and treatment of mental health needs19 improve outcomes for children and families and reduces long-term20 societal costs; and21 WHEREAS, The State Health Professional Shortage Areas map22 shows that continued focus is critical to fully integrate primary and23 mental health care, as many communities still lack sufficient services to24 ensure that children and youth receive the right care at the right time; and 25 WHEREAS, Sustained initiatives are needed to expand the26 continuum of care from early preventive support to high-acuity care for27 Colorado children and youth with complex mental health needs; and28 WHEREAS, Pediatric health-care providers play a vital role in29 SJR26-013-2- identifying, supporting, and treating the mental health needs of children1 and youth across Colorado; now, therefore,2 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly3 of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:4 (1) That the General Assembly commits to promoting child and5 youth well-being in Colorado through cost-effective investments that6 maintain a functional mental health system capable of addressing the7 unique needs of children;8 (2) That the General Assembly supports continued efforts to9 strengthen coordination, efficiency, and accessibility within the children's10 mental health system;11 (3) That the General Assembly continues to partner with mental12 health providers and professionals, state agencies, local partners,13 community organizations, and Colorado children, youth, and families to14 prioritize the mental health needs in our state; and15 (4) The General Assembly recognizes February 26, 2026, as16 Youth Mental Health Action Day, where we honor the tireless efforts of17 pediatric health-care providers and commit to collaboratively supporting18 Colorado kids' mental health and well-being.19 SJR26-013-3-
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