Diane Lask: Gross Reservoir: Commissioners should stop unnecessary expansion
I support Naomi Rachel’s Nov. 30 letter to the editor regarding a redesign opportunity by the Boulder County Commissioners and would like to add my two cents. The decision to expand Gross Reservoir’s capacity was made years ago when the Denver Water Board determined that the environmental impact would be minimal and that the increased water capacity was necessary to meet the needs of a growing population. In their studies, I don’t believe they included the effects of climate change, resulting in permits that essentially deny its influence on the project. The modeling used to verify sufficient flow to fill the expanded reservoir was based on weather conditions from 1947 to 1991.
Under current conditions, the expansion is affecting residents and the environment much more than expected. An equally important factor to consider is how long it takes for the extra capacity to fill up; if ever. Water levels in existing reservoirs to the west are catastrophically lower than they have ever been, and scientific predictions of continued drought give little hope of refilling them. The Denver Water Board should be educating residents about water conservation rather than going ahead with the Gross Reservoir expansion. I agree that the Boulder County commissioners need to stop this unnecessary project.
Diane Lask, Boulder
Isabella Martinez: Mental health: discussing mental health is important for men
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, men are more than three times more likely than women to commit suicide. November has passed and few people knew it was Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. However, the issue of mental health is not an issue that comes and goes. There are serious health issues associated with suppressing emotions.
For a long time, mental health focused on women who were notoriously considered more “emotional.” However, research reported by Dr. Claudia Elsig concludes that just because emotions aren’t shown doesn’t mean they aren’t felt. We all need to take the time to understand the consequences of emotional suppression and do our part by encouraging all loved ones, men and women, to discuss their emotions. The fight for equality has been an uphill battle and equality in mental health must not be left behind.
Let’s make a change.
Isabelle Martinez, Lakewood
Margaret Fosselius: Mental health: child safety is worth any amount of funding
Current research suggests that teens who bully and show violent tendencies are more likely to have mental health issues. As recently as May 2022, a fourteen-year-old student threatened to open fire on his high school in Boulder. The police ransacked this child’s home and detained him. In all the inquest reports, there is no mention of an inquest into the mental health of this child.
This student may have suffered from the neglect of an untreated mental illness. We should not wait for a child to hurt or threaten others to consider their sanity. According to an article by Advanced Psychiatry Associates, violence, bullying and behavioral problems are strong indicators of serious mental disorders. In order to prevent patterns of violence in schools, the mental health of young people needs to be taken more seriously. I believe schools need to help teens with anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder before they become potentially dangerous.
From my personal experience at school, I know the lack of mental health services for children and the denial of the problem. Concerns are often reported to parents, which can be dangerous if family relationships are not strong. Children should have access to therapy in schools, and it should be free. Any funding is worth fewer lives lost, fewer victims of bullying and less neglect of our children. We must insist that schools ensure that all children get the help they need. Schools must be safe havens for our most vulnerable population.
Margaret Fosselius, Boulder
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