Scanlon for Colorado

Category: Health Care

  • Standing Up To Political Terrorism

    I was out of town for four days tending to my Mom’s service and memory. It was a beautiful weekend as we celebrated her life. I saw family members I hadn’t seen for 25 years. We cried, we laughed, we ignored our cell phones for hours at a time. It was, honestly, the best time I’ve had in a long time. Mom would be happy.
    I say it was beautiful, but beautiful things weren’t happening while I was traveling, seeking a break, seeking a reprieve from the 24/7 news cycle.
    In the span of minutes, a shooter opened fire in Evergreen High School while in Utah, Charlie Kirk was assassinated by sniper’s single bullet.
    It seems odd that I have to say this, but, yes, obviously:
    I am opposed to violence outside the rink.
    I am opposed to gun violence.
    I am opposed to violence against Jews.

    I am opposed to violence against Muslims.
    I am opposed to genocide against any group.
    I am opposed to violence against right wing social media influencers.
    I am opposed to violence against students seeking an education.
    Somehow, this exercise seems trite, doesn’t it? I mean, a couple of young men are dead here. I don’t want to sound insincere – I am very sincere, I take this political terrorism very seriously.
    Let’s take it a step further. Let’s work in collaboration to make life better for everyone.

    Here are a few suggestions:

    • Name the violence for what it is. When an individual or group uses intimidation, murder, or threats to advance a political or ideological cause, that is terrorism. We cannot excuse it or downplay it depending on who the victims are or what cause the perpetrator claims to serve.
    • Put life above faction. No disagreement—over religion, politics, race, or identity—ever justifies the murder of neighbors, students, or public figures. If we can’t agree on that bedrock principle, then the rest of our democracy will crumble.
    • Invest in prevention, not just reaction. This means supporting schools, mental health systems, gun safety laws, and law enforcement tools that focus on stopping violence before it erupts rather than politicizing tragedy after the fact.
    • Reject political profit from fear. Politicians who turn every act of violence into a talking point for donations or division are part of the problem. Leaders have a duty to calm, not inflame.
    • Strengthen community ties. The bonds I felt at my mother’s memorial—the laughter, the hugs, the shared stories—are what make life worth defending. Terrorism thrives in isolation and alienation; it suffocates when people are connected, engaged, and looked after.

    We can disagree on policy. We will disagree on policy. We must disagree on policy. But we must not disagree on this: every child, every parent, every teacher, every neighbor deserves to live free from the threat of sudden political terrorism or gun violence.

    If we can summon the courage to recognize that truth together, maybe—just maybe—we can start building something stronger than the hate that keeps tearing us apart.

  • It’s OK to Not Be OK

    Something powerful is happening in our communities. After decades of whispered conversations and hidden struggles, we’re finally saying out loud what we’ve always known in our hearts: it’s OK to not be OK.

    For too long, mental health has been treated as a personal failing rather than a health issue. In working-class communities like Commerce City, the pressure to “tough it out” runs deep. We’ve been taught that asking for help is weakness, that admitting you’re struggling somehow makes you less of a provider, less of a parent, less of a person.

    That ends now.

    The Facts We Can’t Ignore

    Mental health challenges affect 1 in 5 Americans every year. In Colorado, we’ve seen alarming increases in anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, particularly among our young people. The COVID pandemic didn’t create these problems, but it exposed just how fragile our mental health infrastructure really is.

    Here’s what we know: mental health is health, period. Just like we wouldn’t tell someone with diabetes to “think positive thoughts” instead of taking insulin, we can’t treat mental health challenges as character defects that people should just overcome on their own.

    Why This Matters for HD32

    When I knock doors in Commerce City, I hear the same stories over and over. Parents worried about their teenagers who seem withdrawn and anxious. Workers struggling with depression but afraid to take time off. Seniors feeling isolated and forgotten. Veterans carrying invisible wounds that never fully heal.

    These aren’t isolated problems – they’re community challenges that require community solutions.

    What We Can Do

    As your representative in HD32, I will fight for:

    • Full mental health parity – Insurance companies must cover mental health treatment the same way they cover physical health
    • School-based mental health programs – Every student should have access to counseling and support
    • Crisis intervention training – Our first responders need better tools to help people in mental health emergencies
    • Workplace mental health protections – No one should lose their job for seeking help
    • Community mental health centers – Accessible, affordable care in every neighborhood

    The Permission You Don’t Need (But I’m Giving Anyway)

    If you’re reading this and struggling, here’s your permission slip: You are allowed to not be OK. You are allowed to ask for help. You are allowed to prioritize your mental health without guilt or shame.

    You are not broken. You are not weak. You are human.

    Resources That Are Here for You Right Now

    • 988 – Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text, 24/7)
    • Colorado Crisis Services – Text TALK to 38255
    • Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741
    • NAMI Colorado – Support groups and resources statewide

    Moving Forward Together

    The conversation about mental health isn’t just changing in legislative chambers and healthcare boardrooms. It’s changing around kitchen tables, in break rooms, at community centers, and yes, even on social media.

    Every time someone says “I’m struggling and that’s OK,” they make it easier for the next person to speak up. Every time we treat mental health as seriously as we treat physical health, we save lives.

    This is what it means to put working families first. It means acknowledging that our mental health is just as important as our paycheck, our benefits, and our job security. Because what good is economic opportunity if we’re not healthy enough – mentally and physically – to seize it?

    In HD32, we’re going to lead this conversation, not follow it. We’re going to make sure every family has access to the mental health resources they need. And we’re going to keep saying, loud and clear, that it’s OK to not be OK.

    Because that’s how we heal – together.

    If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out for help. You matter, your life has irreplaceable value, and there are people who want to support you.