Voters guide on where candidates stand on mental health issues is now available

Colorado office seekers routinely make their stances known on issues like the economy, taxes, energy development and gun control.

But as more people struggle with teen suicides, depression and anxiety, the state’s politicians vying for votes on Nov. 5, also should let voters know how they stand on mental health policy, said Renata Hill, publisher of Moodfuel.

“There are just so many Coloradans suffering from unmet mental health needs, and there really hasn’t been a focus on mental health and it should be a focus on mental health in the election,” Hill said.

The online Moodfuel  serves Coloradans with unmet mental health needs through inclusive, solutions-based articles, resources and diverse content, according to its website.

To let voters know how local candidates lean on mental health issues, Moodfuel produced the state’s first-ever Colorado Mental Health Voters’ Guide.

The guide presents fact-checked, nonpartisan information about state legislative candidates and ballot measures through the lens of mental health, according to a Moodfuel news release.

“Now, Colorado voters can better assess the people who will lead and legislate for them and the measures affecting their ability to achieve mental wellness,” the news release states.

Hill said she sent out 219 emails asking for responses to a three-question survey to all state legislative candidates.  She received 24 responses in all. “I actually thought that wasn’t too bad considering it was out first time at this,” Hill said.

Responses were split evenly between Republicans and Democrats, she said, while third-party and unaffiliated candidates also provided plenty of answers.

Moodfuel summarized the recurring themes using symbols for easy skimming and highlighted significant comments, Hill said. Verbatim responses are included in additional web pages for state senate candidates and state house candidates.

“I appreciated those who took the time to respond in such thoughtful ways,” Hill said. “Some wrote significantly long responses, I really appreciate that,” she said.

George Mumma, retired chief of the Morrison Police Department, is a candidate for House District 25 and told Moodfuel, in part, that he was a founder of the Jefferson County Juvenile Assessment Center that provides assessment and referrals to appropriate services to the families of teens struggling with mental health issues.

 “As a law enforcement official, I know that it is difficult to find mental health agencies and providers that meet the needs of the diverse populations in Colorado, this should be evaluated and we must work to provide more options for care,” Mumma said.

Cathy Kipp, a Democrat who currently serves as the State House Representative for House District 52, wrote in the survey that she has supported “essentially all legislation to help those living with mental health challenges get the help they need.”

Kipp is seeking a seat in the Colorado Senate representing District 14.

“Mental health has impacted some of my close family members and the families of so many others who live in my community and throughout the state,” Kipp told Moodfuel. “I just know that mental health challenges are real and much more prevalent than I knew.”

Caryn Ann Harlos, the Libertarian Party candidate for Senate District 2, told the survey “The government should let people try alternative therapies. I am a Libertarian anarchist. Other people’s health and choices are not my business,” Harlos wrote.

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