Editor’s Note: Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

988 Colorado Engages with Communities Statewide for Awareness of Mental Health Resources

Sept. 5, 2025

DENVER, CO- Governor Jared Polis has proclaimed Sept. 8, 2025, as 988 Colorado Mental Health Line Day in Colorado, part of the ongoing effort to raise awareness of the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line (988 Colorado). September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to emphasize the importance of prioritizing mental health, recognizing the warning signs for suicide and promoting mental health resources and support. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), in Colorado last year there were 20.83 suicide deaths per 100,000. To facilitate connections and encourage open conversations this month, 988 Colorado is engaging in-person with communities across the state.

988 Colorado is the state’s primary crisis and mental health line, connected to a national network of local contact centers offering free and confidential assistance to people feeling overwhelmed, panicked or out of control, to experiencing suicidal thoughts or anything in between. Anyone seeking mental health support can call or text 988 or live chat 988Colorado.com for free, 24/7.

“Our work to ensure every Coloradan has access to high-quality health care includes access to necessary mental health support. 988 Colorado is an important resource for many Coloradans and remains a critical part of Coloradans’ health care network, helping us to thrive. I encourage Coloradans to call 988 if you need support,” said Governor Polis.

“988 Colorado is more than a phone number. It’s a movement to build a culture of mental health support across our state. Whether through high-profile activations, statewide campaigns, or one-on-one conversations, we are committed to ensuring that every person in Colorado knows that help is just three digits away,” said 988 Colorado Director Gordon Coombes.

988 Colorado September Events: Meeting People Where They Are

In advance of 988 Colorado Mental Health Line Day, and throughout the month of September, 988 Colorado will be showing up in communities to meet people where they are and lift up voices representing our diverse population.

• Sept. 6: 988 Colorado is partnering with Colorado State University (CSU) Rams Athletics for the home-opening football game at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins against the University of Northern Colorado. The game also coincides with Ag Day at CSU, presenting a powerful opportunity to connect Colorado’s agricultural community. 988 Colorado will have a pop-up 988 Radio Lounge with special appearances by CSU student athletes to engage people in a positive, approachable way.

“College can feel like a constant state of pressure. Whether it’s classes, practices, or just life, it can be a lot. Talking about what you’re going through isn’t weakness, it’s strength. It’s okay to not be okay,” said Charlie Dortch, CSU basketball player.

• Sept. 6: 988 Colorado and Southern Ute Behavioral Health will host the 988 Youth Skatedeck Art Paint Party from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Local youth are encouraged to attend this community event to paint their own skateboard deck. The youth artwork will be created into stickers and displayed in community spaces. Supplies, food and beverages will be provided.

• Sept. 7: 988 Colorado will support Fiestas Patrias at Arapahoe Park, a community event with booths, food and live music from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

• Sept. 8: 988 Colorado will mark 988 Colorado Mental Health Line Day with a video campaign sharing voices from around the state about why mental health matters and why 988 Colorado is so important. On September 8, visit 988 Colorado Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts to see this video.

• Sept.13: 988 Colorado will support the community at Denver’s Out of Darkness Walk at Berkeley Lake Park starting at 9:00 a.m. This family-friendly event raises awareness for suicide prevention and honors lives lost to suicide.

Recognize the Warning Signs

• Eating or sleeping too much or too little

• Feeling like you have to keep busy

• Excessive smoking, drinking, or using drugs, including prescription medications

• Lack of energy or always feeling tired

• Trouble focusing or remembering

• Anger, feeling edgy, or lashing out at others

• Changes in behavior like isolating or taking risks

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 or visit 988Colorado.com to live chat.

Media Resources

• 988 Colorado Dashboard: Provides members of the public with usage information.

• 988 Colorado Media Kit: Assets in English and Spanish to help build awareness for 988 Colorado. Includes Official Proclamation for 988 Colorado Mental Health Line Day, logos and messages to accompany stories pertaining to mental health.

About the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line

The 988 Colorado Mental Health Line (988 Colorado) is the easy-to-remember three-digit number that allows anyone concerned about an emotional, mental health or substance use concern to be immediately connected with a trained specialist who will listen without judgment. 988 is free, confidential and available 24/7. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 or visit 988Colorado.com to live chat.

About the 988 Crisis Hotline Enterprise

In preparation for the launch of 988 in Colorado, Senate Bill 21-154 established the 988 Crisis Hotline Enterprise in the Department to:

• Impose a 988 surcharge and a prepaid wireless 988 charge;

• Fund the 988 crisis hotline;

• Work with third parties to provide crisis outreach, stabilization, and acute care;

• Authorize and issue revenue bonds payable from the newly created 988 Crisis Hotline Cash Fund; and

• Adopt, amend, or repeal policies to regulate its affairs.

The enterprise is governed by a board of directors appointed by the Governor.

The post Governor Polis Proclaims September 8 as 988 Colorado Mental Health Line Day appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 19, 2025

On July 17, the option went dead for LGBTQ+ youth to access specialized mental health support from the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said a month earlier that it would no longer “silo” services and would instead “focus on serving all help seekers.” That meant the elimination of the “Press 3” option, the dedicated line answered by staff specifically trained to handle LGBTQ+ youth facing mental health issues ranging from anxiety to thoughts of suicide.

Now, states such as California, Colorado, Illinois, and Nevada are scrambling to backfill LGBTQ+ crisis support through training, fees, and other initiatives in response to what advocates say is the Trump administration’s hostile stance toward this group. In his first day back in the White House, President Donald Trump issued an executive order recognizing only two sexes, male and female, and while campaigning, he condemned gender ideology as “toxic poison.” And the administration omitted “T” for transgender and “Q” for queer or questioning in announcing the elimination of the 988 Press 3 option.

“Since the election, we’ve seen a clear increase in young people feeling devalued, erased, uncertain about their future, and seeing resources taken away,” said Becca Nordeen, senior vice president of crisis intervention at The Trevor Project, a national suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit for LGBTQ+ youth.

Nordeen and other advocates for at-risk kids who helped staff the dedicated line said it has never been more critical for what The Trevor Project estimates are 5.2 million LGBTQ+ people ages 13-24 across the U.S. About 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously consider attempting suicide each year, including roughly half of transgender and nonbinary young people, according to a 2023 survey, reflecting a disproportionately high rate of risk.

The use of the dedicated line for LGBTQ+ youth had steadily increased, according to data from the federal substance abuse agency, with nearly 1.6 million calls, texts, or online chats since its rollout in October 2022, out of approximately 16.7 million contacts to the general line. The Press 3 option reached record monthly highs in May and June. In 2024, contacts to the line peaked in November, the month of the election.

Call-takers on the general 988 line do not necessarily have the specialized training that the staff on the Press 3 line had, causing fear among LGBTQ+ advocates that they don’t have the right context or language to support youth experiencing crises related to sexuality and gender.

“If a counselor doesn’t know what the concept of coming out is, or being outed, or the increased likelihood of family rejection and how those bring stressors and anxiety, it can inadvertently prevent the trust from being immediately built,” said Mark Henson, The Trevor Project’s interim vice president of advocacy and government affairs, adding that creating that trust at the beginning of calls was a critical “bridge for a youth in crisis to go forward.”

The White House’s Office of Management and Budget did not immediately respond to questions about why the Press 3 option was shut down, but spokesperson Rachel Cauley told NBC News that the department’s budget would not “grant taxpayer money to a chat service where children are encouraged to embrace radical gender ideology by ‘counselors’ without consent or knowledge of their parents.”

Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement: “Continued funding of the Press 3 option threatened to put the entire 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in danger of massive reductions in service.”

When someone calls 988, they are routed to a local crisis center if they are calling from a cellphone carrier that uses “georouting” — a process that routes calls based on approximate areas — unless they select one of the specialized services offered through the national network. While the Press 3 option is officially no longer part of that menu of options, which includes Spanish-language and veterans’ services, states can step in to increase training for their local crisis centers or establish their own options for specialized services.

California is among the states attempting to fill the new service gap, with Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announcing a partnership with The Trevor Project to provide training on LGBTQ+ youth issues for the crisis counselors in the state who answer calls to the general 988 crisis line. The state signed a $700,000 contract with the organization for the training program.

The Trevor Project’s Henson said the details still need to be figured out, including evaluating the training needs of California’s current 988 counselors. The partnership comes as the organization’s own 24/7 crisis line for LGBTQ+ youth faces a crisis of its own: The Trevor Project was one of several providers paid by the federal government to staff the Press 3 option, and the elimination of the service cut the organization’s capacity significantly, according to Henson.

Gordon Coombes, director of Colorado’s 988 hotline, said staff there are increasing outreach to let the public know that the general 988 service hasn’t gone away, even with the loss of the Press 3 option, and that its call-takers welcome calls from the LGBTQ+ population. Staff are promoting services at concerts, community events, and Rockies baseball games.

Coombes said the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration contracts with Solari Crisis & Human Services to answer 988 calls, and that the training had already been equipping call-takers on the general line to support LGBTQ+ young people.

The state supports the 988 services via a 7-cent annual fee on cellphone lines. Coombes said the department requested an increase in the fee to bolster its services. While the additional funds would benefit all 988 operations, the request was made in part because of the elimination of the Press 3 option, he said.

Nevada plans to ensure that all 988 crisis counselors get training on working with LGBTQ+ callers, according to state health department spokesperson Daniel Vezmar. Vezmar said Nevada’s $50 million investment in a new call center last November would help increase call capacity, and that the state’s Division of Public and Behavioral Health would monitor the impact of the closure of the Press 3 option and make changes as needed.

The Illinois Department of Human Services announced after the Press 3 option’s termination that it was working to train existing call center counselors on supporting LGBTQ+ youth and promoting related affirming messages and imagery in its outreach about the 988 line. A July increase in a state telecommunications tax will help fund expanded efforts, and the agency is exploring additional financial options to fill in the new gap.

Kelly Crosbie, director of North Carolina’s Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services, said the division has recently invested in partnerships with community organizations to increase mental health support for marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ populations, through the state’s 988 call center and other programs.

“We’ve wanted to make sure we were beefing up the services,” Crosbie said, noting that North Carolina’s Republican legislature continues to restrict health care for transgender youth.

Hannah Wesolowski, chief advocacy officer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said Congress could put the funding for the LGBTQ+ line in any final appropriations bill it passes. She also said states could individually codify permanent funding for an LGBTQ+ option, the way Washington state has created and funded a “Press 4” option for its Native American population to reach crisis counselors who are tribal members or descendants trained in cultural practices. The state created the option by carving out some of its 988 funding. No state has publicly announced a plan to make such an investment for LGBTQ+ populations.

Federal lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have spoken out against the closure of the LGBTQ+ 988 option and urged that it be reinstated. At a July press conference alongside Democratic colleagues, Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican who represents part of New York’s Hudson Valley, said he and Republican Rep. Young Kim of Orange County, California, wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging him to reverse course and keep the LGBTQ+ line.

“What we must agree on is that when a child is in crisis — when they are alone, when they are afraid, when they are unsure of where to turn to, when they are contemplating suicide — they need access to help right away,” Lawler said. “Regardless of where you stand on these issues, as Americans, as people, we must all agree there is purpose and worth to each and every life.”

The post The National Suicide Hotline For LGBTQ+ Youth Went Dead and States Are Scrambling To Help appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

As September marks Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month, the stage is set for an unforgettable experience of music, unity, and shared purpose at the 2023 Live Your Lyrics event. This heartfelt musical gathering aims to break the silence surrounding suicide, promote open conversations, and support those in need while celebrating the power of community and togetherness.

Date: Sunday, September 17, 2023
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Doors open at noon.)
Venue: Nissi’s Entertainment & Events Center, 1455 Coal Creek Dr., Lafayette, Colorado (Thank you Nissi’s for hosting us! You are a true community partner!)

Live Your Lyrics has become a beacon of hope and understanding, all thanks to its founder, Dave Sluiter. Inspired by the personal tragedy of losing his partner to suicide, Dave embarked on a mission to shed light on the importance of suicide prevention. Dave and his band, Lakota Ridge, started an annual suicide awareness event at Dave’s church, which has become Live Your Lyrics.

“The inception of Live Your Lyrics stemmed from a desire to increase awareness and advocate for the prevention of suicide. Dedicated to dismantling societal stigmas surrounding mental health conditions, the primary objective of this event is to instill hope and offer an alternative to individuals who may be contemplating self-harm or suicide,” explained Dave.

The event is a day of joy, music, and camaraderie designed to encourage dialogue about suicide and self-harm. This year all proceeds will be donated to the local organization Mental Health Partners (MHP). LYL is honored to support MHP whose mission is — Healing is our purpose. Help is our promise. Health is our passion. — MHP compassionately provides access to expert mental health and substance use care so people can enjoy healthy and fulfilling lives. MHP’s crisis center provides 24/7/365 walk-in care for those with substance use issues or needing emergent mental health.

Three outstanding local bands will provide the soul-stirring melodies: Funk Knuf, Boulder Big Band, and Lakota Ridge. Each band will perform a captivating two-hour set, generously donating their time and talent to the cause. In addition, LYL offers sharing and connection experiences throughout the day. It’s a day of joy and sharing, and the opportunity to make new friends.

Live Your Lyrics is made possible by the gracious support of sponsors, including Azafran, Crazy Good Marketing, i2i Workforce, Red Rock Roofing, BCER, KPEO Radio, S3 Partners, Clean My Facility, and First United Methodist Church of Lafayette. Their commitment to this cause exemplifies the unity and determination that defines the event.

Tickets are available for $20 (adults), $10 (ages 3-20), and children two years old and under are free.
Tickets can be purchased at https://liveyourlyrics.life/

Live Your Lyrics promises a memorable musical experience and a chance to unite for a crucial cause. Let us stand together, embrace hope, and foster change. Join us at Nissi’s on September 17th to be part of a movement that promotes understanding, compassion, and life.

The post Groove to the Rhythms of Hope: 2023 Live Your Lyrics Event Promotes Suicide Awareness and Prevention Through Music and Unity appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

I don’t even know how to begin this column. My eyes are filling with tears, and I am having a hard time breathing regularly. I just called to move an appointment so I could compose this story and began crying with a complete stranger.

I just watched the videos from Acme Fine Goods in Louisville this morning. Eric was talking about the passing of our good friend, neighbor, and community member, Moxie Bread owner, Andy Clark.

Andy and I would have long conversations regarding our community. Part of it would go as follows;  I would call to ask him to advertise, and he would tell me how he has too much business, which was hard for me to counter – because I was a regular and knew how busy the stores were. He would laugh and sometimes buy an ad anyway. But when he didn’t buy an ad he was always so gosh darn nice when he told me no. He would tell me; “Shavonne, I want to support you because I believe in the work you do, we need community journalism.” And so he would buy one or two ads a year. He also donated to our crowdsourcing during the Pandemic. He would tell me, “I am just going to donate because I can’t take on any more business.”

That is the kind of person Andy was. But not just for YS – for everyone. During the Pandemic he was vocal about protecting the community and even took some hate for it. But he went above and beyond – just like he did with everything. After the Marshall Fire, Andy and Moxie Bread were some of the first to be out on the frontlines feeding people, making sure they had what they needed. Maybe that is why his bread was so good, it was filled with all that love.

What Andy never knew was that he was a source of light for me during a very dark time in my life.

I had built Yellow Scene up from literally a yellow flyer, to the largest publication in the County. We borrowed no money our first decade and we scrapped and worked hard every step of the way. As comes with success, there is a cultural component to American business that we always think we must get bigger.

For a multitude of reasons, I took a risk and started a second magazine that was distributed from Denver to Fort Collins in 2011. I was blessed with an amazing staff who had drank the kool-aid with me and worked those long hours right alongside me. But as time went on, people got married, had babies and moved on from YS. I was thrust into managing two platforms, with double the staff and frankly, had no clue how to be that big. I started to drown, mistakes started to happen, and stress became a constant. I am not proud of how I acted on that stress during that time, and have worked hard to rectify it, but the damage to my beloved company had been done. By 2017, I had spent so much money I had gone from no debt to 6 figure debt, and I was still sinking. In my mind, I had screwed up my life’s work.

Many do not know this about me, but I sank into a deep depression. Sure, I hid it, but at night I would lay in bed with suicidal ideation running through my mind. I couldn’t stop the thoughts or from crying. Every choice I made seemed to lead to another bad outcome. I couldn’t think straight. I was a hysterical mess.

I was blessed with some very wise people who, for whatever reason, wanted to help. One person trusted me enough to loan me $50,000 and a few others smaller amounts, but several loaned me their time and expertise. Blair Koch, of TAB Denver West, donated an entire year to me for consulting services. I still hear her first words to me; “You have to turn off that noise in your head.” At the time I had no idea how to do that. I was crushing under the weight of my failure, my finances, and my grief.

Most probably think I am crazy for staying committed to printing YS every month, but I absolutely love what I do. I love that we truly do create something that is real, no compromises, and filled with stories that uplift and inform our community. I love working side by side with small businesses (even if during the Pandemic that was a tad scary). I love crafting smart, clever designs for them and giving them our marketing and design services for free, which is something not really found elsewhere. I love the photoshoots and the art and the fact we have never put the Flatirons on the cover. I love serving this community.

I know Andy loved everything about what he did too.

Photo by Jimena Peck, Published in 5280 Magazine

I don’t know exactly why I did not follow through on those thoughts of suicide. Most people recoiled when they learned of my plight. I felt like a leper.

But not everyone. It wasn’t just Blair who supported me, my CPA did too. He just kept believing in me no matter how ugly the numbers looked. I had friends who constantly checked in on me, would go on walks with me while I sobbed hysterically. I finally got a therapist to help me sort through the emotional mess I had become.

There is a deeper component that happened for me. I had to figure out who I was successful or not, and I had to learn to love that person, mistakes and all. I came to a realization that in our culture we value human life on net worth, and I had to understand that my worth wasn’t the same as my income. That has been a very hard journey as it goes against our societal constructs. I hope to god I have come through a richer person than before, even if it’s not in my bank account.

Andy may never have known that he helped lift me up during some of the darkest times of my life. That he believed in me, and I needed that.

Andy Clark, photo by George Lange Studios, georgelange.com

For those of us who love someone that decides to leave this world, we can never really know what haunted them. It’s a hard, god-damn world to live in, and those striving to create value against a system that works to devalue human beings, tend to care more. They hold that pain because they understand it can be better. Sometimes the pressure of trying to make the world a better place can become too much.

Andy always strived to make the world a better place and the world was better for him being in it. I will mourn the loss of this kind, dear soul, as there are no perfect words. I wish I had known of Andy’s struggle so I could have been the light for him. Because of the gifts he gave us all, I can only hope I can carry his work forward in mine.

Please help support Andy’s family during this time.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/b6eku6-andys-family

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Hours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish

MENTAL HEALTH & SUICIDE RESOURCES

https://rmcrisispartners.org

https://afsp.org

https://www.sprc.org

https://www.riseagainstsuicide.org

https://namibouldercounty.org/in-a-crisis/boulder-crisis-services

https://www.hopecoalitionboulder.org/resources

SLIDING SCALE THERAPY

https://www.naropacommunitycounseling.com

https://www.boulderpsychologicalservices.com

The post Andy was there for me when it was dark appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

PRESS RELEASE: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we are now publishing some press releases in whole.

The post Colorado begins planning for 9-8-8 suicide prevention number | Press Release appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.