I had an exciting opportunity on June 14 to promote my book, The Secrets They Kept, while at the same time talk about new legislation that will expand treatment options for the mentally ill in my home state. As many of you know, in the last decade funds for these much needed services have been slashed throughout the country, including here in Colorado.

In the aftermath of the mass murder that took place last August (2012) at an Aurora, Colorado movie theatre, our governor, John Hickenlooper, along with many others, demanded Colorado address the serious issue of treating the mentally ill. As a result of these efforts, a bill, with a budget of $20 million dollars, was signed into law on May 16 that will provide walk-in crisis centers, a 24-hour hotline, and mobile treatment units in the rural areas of our state.

I spoke about this bill, along with the need to recognize the seriousness of mental illness in our country, on local radio stations KNUS am 710, KRKS am 990, and KRKS 94.7 FM. That interview will be aired on Saturday, June 22 from 9-9:30 a.m. MST. The program is called “Colorado Issues.”