Commerce City Sentinel Express 3
June 8, 2021
DA Brian Mason considers mental health a top priority 17th Judicial District Attorney’s office backs mental health legislation, launches crisis hot line
crimes struggle as well. By addressing those issues up front, the DA hopes that less people will commit crimes. Responding to those considerations, Mason first joined a May 12 press conference alongside state lawmakers and Adams County Commissioner Emma Pinter to advocate BY LIAM ADAMS for two bills in the state legislature LADAMS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM related to mental health. Colorado House Bill 1068 requires Brian Mason, 17th Judicial District insurance companies to cover an Attorney, is getting out in front of annual mental health wellness Colorado’s mental health crisis in examination. Colorado House Bill somewhat unconventional ways for 1258 establishes a state office of a DA. behavioral health to facilitate access “This doesn’t sound like a tradito mental health services. Both bills tional program for a district atrecently passed in the legislature torney’s office, but I envision our and await Gov. Jared Polis’ signarole in a much broader sense than perhaps others have before me. That ture to become law. Mason said at the news, “I’m is, we’re not just here to prosecute really excited about it and glad to crime,” Mason said. have played a small part in their In a uniquely consequential mopassage.” ment for Colorado’s mental health After the press conference, Macrisis, the DA for Adams and Broomfield counties has publicly advocated son’s office launched a mental health crisis hotline — what it’s for legislation related to mental calling the “Summer Life Line” — health and launched a crisis hot that people can call and receive free line. Mason said he’s driven to do mental health counseling by trained what he is by a simple desire to help professionals. The counselors are his community, but also because it part of the district attorney office’s inadvertently th helps him do his job. youth diversion program. “Anything I can do to prevent “My office is running this hot line, crime, to keep people out of the but this is not for people who are system and to keep people from beworried about getting into the crimicoming victimized, I’m going to do,” nal justice system or who are alMason said. ready in the criminal justice system, A disproportionate number of people who commit crimes deal with this is for everybody. We wanted to provide thisFire resource to give help to mentalIn health issues, Mason said,South Partnership with Metro Rescue those in need,” Mason said. and many people who are victims of
35 Annual
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17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason signs his name to show support for bills in the state leigslature that aim to provide Coloradans with more mental health reCOURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF THE 17TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY sources at a May 12 press conference.
Mason’s office announced the hot line days after Colorado Children’s Hospital declared a “pediatric mental health state of emergency.” New data showed the hospital that mental health emergency visits increased by 90 percent in the past two years, a lot due to suicide Presented attempts. by Mason sees these initiatives as first steps in an ongoing effort by him and his staff around the issue. Another side of the mental health crisis he plans to keep talking about is that of the law enforcement profession itself. Many attorneys in DA offices, municipal police officers and county sheriff’s deputies struggle with 35th Annual
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mental health, and they may not be quick to address it because of stigmas. Mason said he wants to lead by example by being open about his own struggles with mental health. He also encourages cities in his district and their police departments to consider resources for their officers. “I don’t want a police officer who is suffering from a mental health struggle to be out on the streets with a gun,” Mason said. “Folks in the law enforcement community who don’t address their own mental health struggles can then end up having crisis that hurt our community and hurt themselves.” Presented by Presented by
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