July 1, 2021
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An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 32
Mental health crisis lingers from pandemic Pot is boiling over as lawmakers, health officials react to growing number of cases BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Wind Crest Executive Director Craig Erickson speaks about acceptance and promotes the community’s diversity program before PHOTO BY THELMA GRIMES the parade.
Wind Crest hosts Pride Parade Residents, family members and employees celebrate the LGBTQ community BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Around 70 Wind Crest Senior Living Community residents, family
members and employees participated in the second annual Pride Parade on June 24. Wind Crest Executive Director Craig Erickson said in past years the community participated in the Denver Pride Parade. Last year, after the Denver parade was canceled amid the pandemic, Erickson said they came up with the idea to celebrate the LGBTQ community at the Wind Crest facilities in High-
lands Ranch. Craig said residents at Wind Crest are accepting and loving as they get involved in planning the inclusive events. Erickson said a lot of the ideas come from the community’s diversity and inclusion program, which is led by the 2021 parade Grand Marshal Jim Genasci. SEE PRIDE, P31
Before the 2020 pandemic, Kelly Blike described the behavioral health situation for both adolescents and adults in Colorado as a boiling pot of water, filled to the rim. Now, that pot is spilling over with no containment in site. “There has always been a mental health crisis in Colorado, COVID just echoed it,” said Blike, a social worker at the UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital. “The isolation and lack of physical contact has exaggerated a problem that was already in place. We cannot ignore the problem. We have a long way to go.” As businesses and life appear to be returning to normal from the pandemic, Blike said hospitals are still dealing with the residual effects. Dr. Ben Usatch, director of emergency medicine at the Highlands Ranch hospital, said the 21-bed emergency room has a handful of patients needing mental health SEE CRISIS, P2
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 22
SPARKS WILL FLY
A regional look at July Fourth events
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