In a significant move aimed at strengthening public health infrastructure, Mesa County Public Health launched a Behavioral Health Division. It is designed to align behavioral health efforts and bolster strategic partnerships across organizations.

The new division reflects a shift toward upstream, preventive approaches in behavioral health, an area increasingly recognized as critical to workforce stability, economic resilience and long-term community prosperity.

Jennifer Daniels, a seasoned leader in mental health advocacy with more than 25 years of experience, has been tapped to lead the division as the Behavioral Health Division Director. Daniels is a licensed social worker and a widely respected figure in regional suicide prevention and mental health initiatives. Her leadership experience includes directing Mesa County’s Suicide Prevention Coalition, implementing the Zero Suicide framework at St. Mary’s Medical Center and coordinating behavioral health programming within School District 51.

“This new division allows us to take a systems-level approach to behavioral health, the same way we’ve tackled other pressing public health challenges,” Daniels said. “That means using data to drive decisions, embedding equity into our strategies and designing structures that lead to sustainable outcomes.”

Daniels earned a master’s degree in social work from Our Lady of the Lake University with a specialization in Spanish-speaking populations and a bachelor of science in biological sciences from Colorado Mesa University. Her work has spanned the nonprofit, education and healthcare sectors, and she continues to serve as board chair for the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado and a commissioner on the Colorado Suicide Prevention Commission.

Strategic priorities with measurable outcomes

The new division will focus on data-informed planning, resource coordination and cross-sector alignment. Mesa County Public Health intends to build on momentum generated through existing partnerships, including its active role in the Behavioral Health Steering Committee and priorities identified at the Behavioral Health Summit.

Key goals include:

• Driving progress on the priorities identified at the Behavioral Health Summit, with a focus on collaboration, accountability and measurable impact.
• Supporting and enhancing the local crisis continuum, with a focus on coordinated entry, stabilization and diversion from emergency departments and the justice system.
• Strengthening the behavioral health workforce pipeline and capacity through training, recruitment and retention efforts.

For the business community, this development represents more than a health initiative; it’s an investment in community resilience.

“Workforce readiness, productivity and long-term economic vitality are all linked to mental health,” Daniels said. “This work helps ensure that employees, families and community members are supported before they reach a breaking point.”

Public health as a systems-level leader

By elevating behavioral health into a distinct division, Mesa County Public Health reinforces its commitment to addressing not only physical health, but the social determinants and mental wellness factors that shape population outcomes.

“This is a milestone in our broader strategy to address the root causes of poor health outcomes,” Daniels said. “It reflects our belief that every Mesa County resident deserves the opportunity to thrive mentally, emotionally and physically.”

The community can stay informed on the division’s progress and initiatives by signing up for Mesa County Public Health’s health alerts through the website at mesacounty.us/health.