By Rep. Anthony Hartsook – Colorado Politics
The acknowledgement and treatment for serious mental illness has come a long way. However, we still need significant improvement in our approach to treating serious mental illnesses (SMI) and other brain injuries. I am working with Republican and Democratic colleagues to support HB23-1130, which is designed to limit “step therapy” for those with SMI. For too long, SMI has been approached and treated in a dramatically different manner than physical illness. We have learned during the past several decades brain health is just as serious as physical health. We have learned this agonizing lesson through the experiences and injuries of our veterans.