Aligns with debut of El Paso County Public Health’s “Pikes Peak Rising 360” online tool
Mayor Yemi today joined his wife, Abbey Mobolade, in unveiling the name of a new regional initiative on mental health – Pikes Peak Rising. This mental health movement marks a collaborative effort of more than 40 different organizations working together on boosting awareness of mental health needs in the Pikes Peak region, connecting people to the help they need and building a more resilient community.
Pikes Peak Rising aims to address the growing mental health crisis as identified by the U.S. Surgeon General, and it is inspired in part by the Mobolade’s personal journey navigating the mental health landscape for family and friends. It is also part of the City’s new 2024-2028 Strategic Plan which, through the priority of community activation, calls for the City to play a role in engaging residents to foster a more connected community.
“Community activation is about mobilizing our community members to take ownership of their own flourishing and drive positive change,” said Mayor Yemi. “Our community's mental well-being is one of the primary objectives of our Strategic Plan because mental health is all of us. It will take a village to improve our community's mental well-being, and Pikes Peak Rising is a symbol of hope, a much-needed platform, and a rallying cry to make Colorado Springs the leading city on mental health and wellness in the United States.”
The Pikes Peak Rising logo is inspired by a phoenix rising over the mountains and represents the personal journey of each individual. While the traditional color representing mental health is green, Pikes Peak Rising offers inspiration through a warm and uplifting color palette of yellow and orange. The color is meant to shine a light on mental health needs while also offering hope.
“Everyone is on a journey, and sometimes that means you or someone next to you needs help from time to time. I know I do,” said Abbey Mobolade, a nurse educator and former critical care nurse. “I want you to know that you are not alone. The collaboration of Pikes Peak Rising is to establish a dynamic, local place to share resources, tools, and help – in a way that makes sense for you. No matter your trials or situation, hope is always here. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, we too can grab on to hope and look to the light. Together, we can rise.”
El Paso County Public Health's “Pikes Peak Rising 360,” which launched today, is a key part of this initiative. A first-of-its kind public tool, it is designed to help community members access vetted mental health and wellness resources suitable for all learning styles. The easy-to-access online portal was built by mental health and well-being experts who are leaders in the field. Its aim is to provide everyone with an engaging way to explore, discover and match the best evidence-based self-help resources specifically for their needs and preferences.
“Public Health's goal is to promote mental well-being, working collaboratively to highlight the importance of connecting people to credible resources to positively impact quality of life while increasing resilience to navigate life's ups and downs,” said Susan Wheelan, El Paso County Public Health executive director. “We appreciate the multidisciplinary organizations who are part of this collective effort—and look forward to building additional partnerships across all El Paso County municipalities— to provide a new online resource to connect people to self-help through curated, evidence-based resources.”
Other programs currently under the Pikes Peak Rising umbrella include the City’s 1,000 Neighborhood Gatherings initiative and the GRIT program out of the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
Along with the City of Colorado Springs, El Paso County Public Health and UCCS, other collaborators on Pikes Peak Rising include Anschutz Consortium, Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado, Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Mental Health Consortium, Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, Colorado Springs Conservatory, Colorado Springs Health Foundation, CommonSpirit Health, Community Health Alliance, Community Health Partnership, CONO, COSILoveYou, Diversus, El Pomar Foundation, Gazette Charities Foundation, Healthy Community Collaborative, Joint Initiatives, NAMI, Peak View Behavioral Health, Peak Vista, Pikes Peak Library District, Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership, Pikes Peak United Way 211, Pikes Peak Workforce Center, RISE Southeast, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado, Suicide Prevention Collaborative of El Paso County, UC-Health.
More information on Pikes Peak Rising and all of the programs and partners that are contributing to it can be found on a new City webpage: ColoradoSprings.gov/PikesPeakRising.