A state program that provides young people mental health services will continue, as Gov. Jared Polis and the state legislature have made preserving it a priority in the last two sessions.

At the beginning of the 2024 session, Sen. Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, said one of her top priorities was to ensure that the I Matter program, which was slated to expire on June 30 of this year, was made permanent.

Senate Bill 001, the chamber’s first bill of the session and signed by Polis this week, makes the program, which provide up to six free therapy sessions annually for youth, permanent.  

Polis’ support for the measure is not surprising. During his State of the State address in January, the second-term governor said, “Our budget calls for more support for behavioral health and autism care for youth, expanded care for youth facing acute behavioral health challenges, investment in mental health support for our rural and agricultural communities, and those involved in the criminal justice system.”

Making I Matter permanent comes with a price tag. According to the bill’s fiscal note, it will cost more than $22 million over the next two years, the majority of that money coming out of the state’s general fund.

With the governor signing the bill into law on Tuesday, Children’s Hospital Colorado applauded the state’s continued efforts to address what remains a top concern for healthcare professionals.

“Children today are facing numerous challenges, from social stressors to bullying to academic pressures,” said Zach Zaslow, Children’s Hospital vice president of community health and advocacy. “Without proper support, these issues can manifest into serious mental health issues with lasting consequences.”

Zaslow added: “Children’s Hospital Colorado believes that the I Matter Program can boost youth mental health access, reduce stigma and promote the value of early intervention — a necessary building block for continued mental health system transformation.”

Zaslow said every child should have equitable access to quality mental healthcare, regardless of backgrounds or life circumstances. With the signing of SB 001, Zaslow said, “We share our gratitude to the bill sponsors, the Behavioral Health Administration and the governor for their commitment to strengthening access to mental health services for Colorado kids.”

Children’s Hospital Colorado declared a “state of emergency” for youth mental health in 2021. Meanwhile, healthcare professionals said the youth mental health situation was already reaching a boiling point before the pandemic, but that, after 2020, the crisis was boiling over and needed immediate state action.

Over the last decade, Colorado topped most national lists for youth suicide rates. However, some say the implementation of I Matter has helped rates drop in recent years.

The Colorado 2023 Kids Count report showed that in 2022, 56 teenagers and 17 younger children died by suicide, a 30% decrease from the year before.

In pushing the legislation, Michaelson Jenet said these results are too significant to discontinue the program.