In the face of a nationwide mental health crisis, CU Anschutz and UCHealth have emerged as national leaders, not only in research and treatment but in forging innovative pathways to bring care to those who need it most. Their partnership is a testament to what’s possible when academic excellence meets clinical innovation — and when both are driven by a shared commitment to healing minds and saving lives.
At CU Anschutz, collaboration is more than a value — it’s a strategy. The response to the mental health crisis has been a campus-wide coalition of willingness, with support from the highest levels, including the Chancellor’s office and our clinical partners. This unified vision led to a transformative philanthropic investment to recruit Dr. C. Neil Epperson, a nationally renowned psychiatrist, as the Robert Freedman Endowed Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine. UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital matched a portion of this commitment, underscoring the depth of their partnership.
Since Dr. Epperson’s arrival six years ago, the impact has been profound. The number of lives touched annually has grown significantly, thanks to expanded capacity and cutting-edge care. UCHealth’s new hospital tower now houses a 40-bed behavioral health wing, offering patients a healing environment grounded in the highest standards of care. Meanwhile, tele-mental health services have extended the reach of CU Anschutz’s expertise across Colorado, bringing care to rural and underserved communities.
This collaboration is already showing measurable results. Colorado, served by UCHealth, is currently the only state in the nation where suicide rates are trending downward — a powerful indicator of the effectiveness of integrated, accessible mental health care.
The partnership’s commitment to addiction science is equally strong. At the Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation (CeDAR), a reset in leadership and vision is driving the development of new clinical care models. These models are designed not only for effective treatment but for long-term success after discharge, with a more intentional approach to patient admissions and care planning.
UCHealth has invested over $150 million in the last five years to improve access to behavioral health care. This includes integrating mental health screenings into primary care visits, expanding virtual behavioral health services and increasing inpatient units — all aimed at removing barriers and creating a seamless continuum of care.
Together, CU Anschutz and UCHealth are proving that when research, philanthropy and clinical care align, transformation is possible. As the largest academic medical campus in the Rocky Mountain region, CU Anschutz has the ingredients to accelerate breakthroughs in mental health. And with UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital as our steadfast hospital partner, the vision of reaching people and families across the lifespan with compassionate, evidence-based care is not just a goal — it’s a reality.