2023 Lean on Me Award Winner: Diversus Health

by Ray Manzari

Each year, Envision:You recognizes an organization in the mental health space for exceptional care and practices. This year’s winner of the Lean on Me award goes to Diversus Health, one of the leading mental health providers on the front range.

Established 145 years ago and originally named Springs Relief Society, Diversus was known for delivering coal, lumber, and clothing to underserved community members. Today, Diversus Health is the largest behavioral health care provider in El Paso, Park, and Teller counties.

Their counseling and mental health services can be divided into four pillars: addiction services, counseling services, crisis services, and psychiatric services. Diversus aims to make mental healthcare accessible and safe for everyone. In doing so, they work with a wide range of insurance providers including Medicaid, and have introduced policies and staff training to better serve the LGBTQ community.

In response to the tragic events at the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs earlier this year, Diversus Health has compiled a list of resources for those struggling with grief, survivors’ guilt, and other mental health challenges in relation to this event. In addition to their resource list ,Diversus Health began offering free care to anyone who was affected by the event either directly or indirectly.

“We are still open to anyone who was impacted by that event to come receive care with us, no questions asked,” Adam Roberts, president and CEO of Diversus Health, tells OFM. “I think in this kind of environment, you try to do as much as you can, and we try to make our clinics as welcoming to everyone as possible.”

Diversus has taken a trauma-informed approach to all of their LGBTQ clients and has clinicians who specialize in working with LGBTQ youth or questioning adults. Providing clients with a safe space to be themselves and explore their identity is part of the reason they’ve been recognized to receive the Lean on Me award.

"We are pleased to acknowledge the invaluable efforts of Diversus Health with our Lean on Me Award. Their unwavering dedication to providing exceptional, culturally responsive care to LGBTQ+ individuals in their communities is vital. Furthermore, following the devastating shooting at Club Q, Diversus Health was among the organizations that stood by our community, offering comfort and support during our time of collective sorrow and outrage," says Steven Haden, chief executive officer, Envision:You.

Diversus Health is also a leading provider of addiction services and offers clients a non-judgmental, goals-based recovery plan. In addition to their substance use disorder (SUD) services, Diversus provides DUI education and therapy for those who are mandated and within the criminal justice system. Diversus offers walk-in intakes for addiction treatment at their Jet Wing facility Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

“We are excited about this award; we feel honored, but there’s always more work to be done.” Roberts says. “We are continuously trying to progress and evolve, and for that, we are really proud.”