The University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora will receive a $50 million challenge grant from the Anschutz Foundation to create a coordinated mental health initiative across its campus and health system. The gift is the lead donation in a broader $200 million fundraising campaign for what will be called the CU Anschutz Campus Mental Health Collaborative.
The collaborative will merge research, clinical, and community efforts in mental health. According to campus leaders, half of the funds will support youth mental health, and the remaining half will focus on adult behavioral health initiatives.
Programs already underway include integrating mental health services into primary care, training specialized first responders in mental health, and piloting new treatments or digital tools like apps. The grant will allow scaling and better coordination across departments, hospitals, and outreach efforts.
CU Anschutz Chancellor Don Elliman called the effort “one of the most exciting initiatives we’ve been involved with in a long time.” He noted the need to unify the many scattered mental health programs under a single framework of care and research.
Dean of the CU School of Medicine, John Sampson, added: “By further integrating into communities, primary care, and specialty care, we can expand access and transform mental health care for generations to come.”
The $50 million serves as a challenge gift, intended to spur additional donations to reach the campaign’s goal of $200 million. Campus leaders said they will seek state, federal, and foundation support to raise the remaining funds.
Colorado faces increasing mental health demands among youth and adults, especially following the pandemic era’s stresses. By investing in infrastructure, integrated care, and research, CU Anschutz aims not only to address local needs but also to become a national model for combining academic health, hospital systems, and community outreach in mental health.
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