St. Vincent's Health is not a psychiatric hospital nor is there a psychiatic hospital or residential service in Lake County.
St.Vincent's sees about one youth per week, 18 and under, that seek help at the St. Vincent Health
emergency department for behavioral health concerns.” They are sent at least two hours away where they lose support and
experience profound loneliness and isolation - the #1 reason for taking one’s own life.

We have one psychologist in Lake County with a 6-month waiting list. Lake County should not be a stepchild to Eagle or Summit County.

Heather was my best friend. She was the second friend I made at St. John's Lafayette Episcopal Church in DC. We had coffee every week to discuss our lives. She lived in a challenging marriage, even a bit controlling. She also had many friends who looked to her for help in difficult times, and she was the first to show up for them. If a friend was in a destructive marriage, she was there, when her mother was ready to repair their relationship, she was there, when her son needed to go to Peru for squash game practices, she was there.

Then, one July 4th, Independence Day, Heather was on their boat with the family and decided to wrap the anchor around her neck and jump into the water.

I have been anxious my whole life. I learned at a young age to read people and listen to footsteps and know exactly what was coming. However, on 911 I did not expect a plane to fly into my building. That has me now afraid of bags that don't seem to belong to anyone, movie theatres, and strangers who are just a little too close. After I left the job I had when my grandfather died, I went back to NYC and began to feel lonely and hopeless. I started going to church, which was helpful, but not enough. I attempted to take my own life by swallowing hundreds of pills and following that up with a bottle of vodka. Clearly that didn't work, and I was in George Washington Hospital in DC for 6 months. I was diagnosed with anxiety, depresion, PTSD, and Bi-Polar. When I left the hospital I spent every day at church, giving me purpose.I met someone who taught me self worth and belonging.

I've taken that and built on it to this day. Mental health holds a special place in my heart. I honestly believe that if we help children we are helping them for life.

Tiffany sits on U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen’s Mental Health Committee. Brittany is committed to advancing mental health legislation and gaining mental health dollars for her Colorado district.