Second annual Behavioral Health Symposium offers guidance for navigating accessible mental health, addiction care

In a full-day event on Sept. 18, providers from Boulder Community Health’s (BCH) Behavioral Health Department, along with representatives from various community organizations, presented lectures and discussions on topics related to mental health illnesses, substance misuse, patient care and best practices.

This year’s Behavioral Health Symposium theme – “Navigating mental health & addiction care: Pearls from the experts” – was chosen because the first step of the journey to accessing care can often feel intimidating and frustrating. Helping to connect patients and families with the right resources at the right time is critical to BCH's mission of providing whole-person care and partnering to create and care for the healthiest community in the nation.

All the informative sessions from the Symposium are available to watch in a playlist online.

This year’s Behavioral Health Symposium - made possible once again through generous support from the Boulder Community Health Foundation - featured inspirational and educational topics related to three areas: care continuum, access points, and youth & family.

We are especially grateful to our partners at Boulder County Law Enforcement & Co-Response, Clinica Family Health & Wellness, District Attorney’s Office for Boulder County, The Hope Institute – Boulder, Rise Against Suicide and Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) for their Symposium presentations and continued collaboration and dedication to treating mental health and substance misuse conditions in our communities.

New this year was a keynote panel titled, “Beyond the barriers: Collaborative solutions for access.” BCH therapist Hannah Jones, LCSW from the Center for Mind Body Medicine facilitated the discussion. She was joined by:

• Hon. Jeffery Cahn – Judge, Boulder County Municipal Court Judge
• Wendy Buxton-Andade – Vice President, Government Affairs at Mental Health Colorado
• Nadia Haddad, MD – Chair, Service Line Medical Director, BCH Department of Behavioral Health

As the demand for mental health care in our community continues to rise, BCH remains committed to evolving and expanding crucial care services.

In late 2024, BCH welcomed Dr. Haddad, who is board certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, to oversee the Behavioral Health Department, which includes mental health & substance use disorder outpatient and inpatient programs based at Foothills Hospital and Della Cava Family Medical Pavilion. Dr. Haddad hopes to inspire others to continue working to reduce the stigma of mental illness and substance use disorders.

“There are few people who aren’t touched in some way by these illnesses, whether themselves or a loved one, and yet there remains so much shame around it that people’s suffering goes on far longer than it should," says Dr. Haddad. 

BCH's experienced providers are dedicated to offering personalized treatments and innovative therapies – the full continuum of behavioral health needs – in one building. Our “No Wrong Door” approach means patients can find appropriate care via the Emergency Department (ED), Inpatient Unit – the only one in Boulder, the new Withdrawal Management Unit, the Center for Interventional Psychiatry (CIP), Outpatient Behavioral Health and Primary Care Services.

Learn about each of the Behavioral Health services available at Della Cava at bch.org/mentalhealth.