Innovation in mental health the topic of CU Advocates forum

The CU Advocates program in the Office of the President is promoting an educational program featuring Matt Vogl, executive director of the National Mental Health Innovation Center at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. He’ll highlight how innovation and technology are being used to address mental health issues.

The event, which also will be live streamed, is set for 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 25 in the Terrace Room at CU Denver, 1380 Lawrence St. September is National Suicide Prevention Month.

CU’s National Mental Health Innovation Center is using new solutions that can be quickly and effectively scaled to help more people, earlier. With an estimated one in five Americans struggling with mental illness or substance abuse every year, the center has received state and private donations to support its cause. Studies show that 80 percent of those with a mental illness don’t get the care they need.

Vogl is a national leader for real-world implementation of virtual reality (VR) to treat mental health. The center established the Technology Innovation Network (TIN).

More than a decade ago, Vogl nearly succumbed to his mental illness. He harnessed his experience, making it a major driver for him to discover services and treatments to help people with behavioral health issues understand what “better looks like, or if better is even possible.”

Registration to attend in person or participate in the webinar is at cu.edu/cuadvocates/events, cuadvocates@cu.edu or 303-860-5633. Cost to attend the program is $15, which includes lunch; members of the CU Advocates program receive a $5 discount.

There is no cost to view the webinar or to request a video of the program.