{"id":13943,"date":"2026-01-16T20:27:56","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T03:27:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/mental-health-substance-use-are-top-concerns-in-countys-new-public-health-plan\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T21:42:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:42:38","slug":"mental-health-substance-use-are-top-concerns-in-countys-new-public-health-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/mental-health-substance-use-are-top-concerns-in-countys-new-public-health-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental health, substance use are top concerns in county\u2019s new public health plan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><figure class=\"wp-block-image naviga-inline-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/imengine.public.prod.dur.navigacloud.com\/?uuid=16df5e50-91e9-56af-b469-056c5162d059&amp;function=cover&amp;type=preview&amp;source=false&amp;width=2000\" width=\"1592\" height=\"1042\" alt=\"The county\u2019s five-year public health improvement plan, shaped by a resident survey, highlights behavioral health and basic needs as top challenges. (Photo\/Montezuma County Public Health Department)\" class=\"naviga-image\" loading=\"lazy\"><figcaption><span class=\"caption\">The county\u2019s five-year public health improvement plan, shaped by a resident survey, highlights behavioral health and basic needs as top challenges. (Photo\/Montezuma County Public Health Department)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<p>Public health officials surveyed the lived experiences of residents in 2024 to assess real-life health issues facing the community today.<\/p>\n<p>Montezuma County residents say poor mental health, substance use and basic needs such as food and housing costs are the most pressing challenges. Those top concerns drive the county public health department\u2019s new five-year improvement plan.<\/p>\n<p>Required by state law, county officials say the plan\u2019s purpose is to translate community feedback into specific health priorities.<\/p>\n<div class=\"naviga-pdf-embed\"><iframe class=\"article-pdf\" src=\"https:\/\/dur-prod-public-pdfs.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/t4W_cU76_5TOmXhj9RVs8Atx2FQ.pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:500px;border:1px solid #ddd\" loading=\"lazy\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dur-prod-public-pdfs.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/t4W_cU76_5TOmXhj9RVs8Atx2FQ.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2026 PHIP.pdf (Download PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><\/p><\/iframe>\n<p class=\"naviga-pdf-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dur-prod-public-pdfs.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/t4W_cU76_5TOmXhj9RVs8Atx2FQ.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2026 PHIP.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Montezuma County public health planner Katy Maxwell led the charge to put the plan together and compile the data informing it. She said she spent hours collecting community-led information.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is a requirement we do this every five years. How we do it, how we involve the community is really up to us. It\u2019s really important for us to have back-and-forth communication with the community,\u201d Maxwell said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"naviga-element naviga-subheadline1\">Top concerns are alcohol, drugs and mental health<\/div>\n<p>The 2026-2031 plan is based on a community survey that drew 800 responses and aimed to include underrepresented groups such as men, tribal members and Spanish speakers.<\/p>\n<p>Mental health ranked as the top concern among 13 issues listed in the survey. More than 20% reported poor mental health lasting more than two weeks in the past month. Suicide has been cited at higher rates in the community for some time. In 2020, as part of the previous improvement plan, the department adopted the Colorado-National Collaborative suicide prevention program. This program remains a core part of its current efforts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"naviga-scoreboard\">\n<h4 class=\"scoreboard-title\">Top findings from Montezuma County\u2019s community health survey<\/h4>\n<p>84% of respondents said lowering the <\/p>\n<p><strong>cost of food<\/strong> is one of the greatest needs related to food access69% said a lack of <\/p>\n<p><strong>affordable, quality housing<\/strong> is a major concern68% identified <\/p>\n<p><strong>substance use<\/strong> \u2013 including alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and illegal drugs \u2013 as a top health issue65% said <\/p>\n<p><strong>mental health<\/strong> is among the top three health issues most important to them, making it the most-selected response for that question63% reported using <\/p>\n<p><strong>alcohol<\/strong> in the past year54% named <\/p>\n<p><strong>neighborhood safety<\/strong> as a major concern53% said <\/p>\n<p><strong>child abuse and neglect prevention<\/strong> is a top social issue49% said a <\/p>\n<p><strong>lack of available appointments<\/strong> or long wait times has prevented them from receiving healthcare or mental healthcare46% said the <\/p>\n<p><strong>cost of food<\/strong> is a barrier to eating healthy, balanced meals42% said accessing healthcare in the community is <\/p>\n<p><strong>not too difficult<\/strong><em id=\"emphasis-e315f5b926185fd49bf7e7763258c18c\">Source: Montezuma County Public Health Department\u2019s 2025 Community Health Assessment<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Additionally, substance use disorder is another top challenge, including alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and illegal drugs.<\/p>\n<p>In the survey, about two-thirds said they use alcohol, aligning with state drinking trends. The survey linked alcohol use to fatal crashes and a liver disease death rate 3.6 times the state average from 2020-23.<\/p>\n<div class=\"naviga-element naviga-subheadline1\">What\u2019s in the plan for targeting improvements<\/div>\n<p>For improvement strategies, public health officials hosted a listening session.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese were people with lived experience or those working in direct service to people that are experiencing mental health or substance use, and they guided the most concrete part of the public health improvement plan, because we asked them specifically, and it was a facilitated listening conversation,\u201d Maxwell said.<\/p>\n<p>Maxwell says stigma, community culture and ways people talk about mental health or substance use, if they talk about it at all, affect outcomes. To address these factors, the new plan suggests normalizing conversations about how individuals deal with addictions or mental health disorders.<\/p>\n<p>The goal is to make people feel comfortable talking about these issues and reaching out for help. Other strategies involve education and awareness. Assessing the interconnection of trauma, how people experience and cope with it in relation to mental health and substance use, is another targeted area for education.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome ideas were social media and marketing campaigns or community events for intervention and awareness,\u201d Maxwell said. \u201cThere\u2019s really a lot of interest in getting youth involved, promoting healthy safe spaces and alcohol-free spaces.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"naviga-scoreboard\">\n<p>Priority goals, areas, objectives and strategiesGoal 1Target areaObjectiveStrategyReduce substance abuse and improve mental health in Montezuma CountyPrevention and early interventionProvide education to families on the risks of early exposure to substances and the importance of parental\/guardian support and guidance around mental health and substance useCommunications and marketing campaign (social media, print flyers, movie theater ads, etc.)Cultural and social normsIncrease awareness of how social norms influence behavior, especially for children and youth, and promote healthy social normsPartner with others in the community to (potentially plan and) promote healthy, safe local events and places\/spacesPromote a youth-led platform (beginning at elementary age kids and up to young adults) to raise awareness, teach coping mechanisms, brain\/body effects related to substance use, and peer pressure resistance skills<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"naviga-element naviga-subheadline1\">Improving food access as directive two<\/div>\n<p>The highest response to any question concerned food costs. About 84% said lowering food costs was a top need. Respondents cited prices as a barrier to healthy meals.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAccess to food is just scarcer here too, because people have to go longer distances, and there are fewer options. We do have a higher percentage of people using SNAP than the state average. So, a little bit more of a lower-income community,\u201d Maxwell added.<\/p>\n<p>Affordability and housing were other major concerns noted in the survey, with 11% of households living in poverty and struggling to afford basic needs, and 35% of households not meeting the county\u2019s targeted cost of living. For Montezuma County children as of 2023, 22% lived in poverty.<\/p>\n<p>Addressing affordability and food access, according to the plan, includes promoting local food resources such as WIC and seeking more grant funding.<\/p>\n<div class=\"naviga-scoreboard\">\n<p>Priority goals, areas, objectives and strategiesGoalTarget areaObjectiveStrategiesImprove food security and accessSupporting local food resource providers and initiativesPromote local food resources among current health department clients (e.g., WIC and NFP clients) to raise awarenessAttend local food security collaborative meetings to identify ways the health department might supportSeek out funding opportunities (grants) to increase food access and food securityDisseminate food-access services (e.g., summer feeding sites) and program information to WIC clientsResearch funding opportunities; apply for funding<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"naviga-element naviga-subheadline1\">How local experiences compare statewide<\/div>\n<p>The findings align closely with conversations occurring statewide, where, Maxwell said, public health officials see similar pressures, especially with food access and barriers to housing. However, some statistics are uniquely linked to the local region.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor example, like we do have historically \u2013 this year may be different \u2013 but historically, we have a higher suicide rate than the state average. Being in a rural area and having access to resources \u2013 that all impacts that rate,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>The suicide rate in the county has trended downward over the past year. But Maxwell said the data should be viewed over several years to ensure it isn\u2019t a fluke, while also saying the decline is worth celebrating.<\/p>\n<div class=\"naviga-element naviga-subheadline1\">Plan designed as community reference<\/div>\n<p>Further, the assessment serves as both an internal guide and a transparent community reference.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is community-level information,\u201d Maxwell said. \u201cPeople deserve to know what\u2019s going on \u2013 what people are saying and what they\u2019re experiencing. It\u2019s our community, and we all deserve access to that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Resident help drive Montezuma County\u2019s health priorities for next five years<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[28,29],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-13943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-headlines","tag-newsletter"],"acf":[],"author_name":"dh_admin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13943","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13943"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13943\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21113,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13943\/revisions\/21113"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13943"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13943"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13943"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=13943"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}