In mid-February, renovation of the space for The Center for Mental Health located in the Ore Bucket Building at 214 6th Street, Suite 4D, Crested Butte, CO. began and was estimated to take about 9-weeks to complete. However, Crested Butte, like many other towns in Colorado, was hit with incredible snowfalls in March that caused some delays. It was one of the most active avalanche seasons on record in Colorado and one particular incident which had an impact on construction was a large roof slide that took workers 3 days to dig out the entrance of the building.
Clinic Progress
In mid-February, renovation of the space for The Center for Mental Health located in the Ore Bucket Building at 214 6th Street, Suite 4D, Crested Butte, CO. began and was estimated to take about 9-weeks to complete. However, Crested Butte, like many other towns in Colorado, was hit with incredible snowfalls in March that caused some delays. It was one of the most active avalanche seasons on record in Colorado and one particular incident which had an impact on construction was a large roof slide that took workers 3 days to dig out the entrance of the building.
Also, the Ore Bucket Building Condo Association limited the hours that loud noise from the demo/construction could only occur to 7am–10am further slowing progress. Now with the demo, framing, and wiring completed, and the insulation and soundproofing in place, the drywall finally started going up on March 29th! Furniture, lighting, paint colors, and fabric have been selected and the hope is to have the space done by the end of April and a certificate of occupancy by early May.
As we get closer to the opening of the clinic, we will provide details for the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony—most likely in early June.
Services at the Clinic
Kimberly Behounek, the Regional Director for The Center for Mental Health, already has staffing in place. Erin Buck the peer support specialist is actively seeing clients in the Crested Butte community and is certified to lead non-spiritual SMART recovery groups which provide the only alternative to AA/NA meetings in Crested Butte. Groups are being held at the Chamber of Commerce conference room on Thursdays at noon until further notice for anyone 18 and up.
Clinician, Sarah Kramer LCSW LAC, and psychiatric nurse practitioner, Laura Rogers are actively building a Crested Butte client caseload out of the Gunnison office and are ready to work in the clinic once the renovation is completed.
Funding
As of April 12, 2019, $11,645 has been donated in Kyle Uhl's name towards the staffing of the clinic in Crested Butte, and I, The Center for Mental Health staff, and stakeholders would like to express our sincerest gratitude for your personal commitment to seeing this dream become a reality. We could not have accomplished opening this clinic without each of you.
However, this is only the beginning as we work to identify new funding sources that will ensure the clinic will remain open for years to come to reduce the number of suicides and improve the general wellness of individuals living at high altitudes.
So what's next. . . .
Save the Date!
On September 15, 16, and 17 of last year, Kyle and a friend hiked from Crested Butte to Aspen, Colorado and back via the West Maroon Trail. This is touted as one of the most desirable hiking trails in the U.S. and I have to believe they chose this hike and time of year for the dry weather and the beauty of the Aspen trees starting to turn. Kyle took the photo on the right during this hike last September.
The East Maroon Trail Hike
To celebrate the memory of Kyle Uhl and raise funds to support continued staffing of The Center for Mental Health, we're working with area businesses and individuals to recreate this hike on September 14, 2019.
This is being organized as a 501(c)3 tax deductible sponsored fundraiser with each entrant raising funds through pledges from friends, etc. in their name.
This will be a one way, one day hike from Aspen to Crested Butte through the National Forest wilderness—roughly 16 miles—beginning early Saturday morning at the East Maroon Creek Trailhead, over East Maroon Pass, past Copper Lake, and down Copper Creek past waterfalls to the trailhead at Gothic. At the Gothic trailhead, we'll be staging bikes for everyone to ride the last 5 miles to the finish at The Elevation Resort and Spa.
> You can read about the hike and the trail here.
> Pro Trails East Maroon Pass Trail Map
The Elevation Resort and Spa is located right at the base of the Mt. Crested Butte ski hill steps from the Red Lady and Silver Queen chair lifts. We'll be blocking out rooms just for this event (details to come) for those staying following the hike, along with dinner for entrants with music, swag, games, and awards!
So Save the Date!
I hope you can join us and support these efforts to help prevent suicide in this community, and our long term goals to fund research and community outreach, build awareness and break down the stigma.
SPREAD THE WORD!
Stay tuned for details, spread the word and best of all—talk about it! If you know of someone who has been touched by suicide or feels strongly about mental health issues, please share this email.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Clinic Opening, May 2019
- Clinic Ribbon Cutting, early June 2019
- TREK for Life, Save the Date: September 14, 2019
(Sponsored fundraiser hike, Aspen to Crested Butte, CO)
