I Matter program helps students put the pieces of mental health together

Students at Holyoke JR/SR High School and Holyoke Elementary School have an additional resource available to them when it comes to their mental health and well-being.

The I Matter program was established by Colorado House Bill 21-1258 and is open to people 18 years or younger and 21 years or younger if they’re receiving special education services.

According to the program’s website, imattercolorado.org, the program is funded by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health, and provides up to three free behavioral health sessions for youth in Colorado.

Holyoke JR/SR High School counselor Ashley Clayton and Holyoke Elementary School counselor Logan Hines both said they feel the program is a great resource for Holyoke students.

“This program has the potential to help students grow and develop their strengths and overcome their struggles as it breaks through the barriers of accessing mental health care in rural Colorado,” Clayton said.

While no elementary students have yet utilized the program, Clayton said the JR/SR high students who have used it like that they are able to access services without having to travel and have felt that the counselors are relatable.

“In our rural area, it is often difficult to get an appointment with a mental health provider quickly, and many of them require that our students drive to Sterling, Ogallala, North Platte and even Denver to access these services,” said Clayton.

She added that this often meant that students had to wait three to four weeks or longer before they could have an initial appointment with a provider.

With access to the I Matter program, she said, students can have an appointment with a licensed mental health provider within one to seven days.

“This has made a huge difference for them as well as their families,” she said. “While they have the option to attend in-person sessions, they also have the ability to access these providers using a virtual setting, and this has made an impact on families in that they don’t have to drive anywhere to access these services.”

Students can sign up by visiting imattercolorado.org, where they are asked questions about their situation and their needs. Based on their responses, they are matched to licensed counselors who specialize in their areas of need.  

Clayton said students can then read biographical information about each provider and select the one they feel most comfortable with. After they choose a counselor, they select an appointment time.

When it comes to the appointment time, students receive an email with the link to access their virtual counseling session. Each session lasts 45 minutes.

After the three free sessions that the program allows, the students can work with the counselor to find or continue services that are covered by their insurance.

Clayton said that when the program launched, the students received emails describing what the program is and how they can access it. Posts were also made on the school district’s social media platforms to raise awareness of the program.

In further efforts to raise awareness of the program’s availability, Clayton said, marketing materials such as posters, stickers, information cards and more were ordered for the school and should arrive within the next few weeks.

For more information, visit imattercolorado.org.