WHAT WE DO  

Mountain Lifeworks uses data to evaluate existing systems, identify current needs and target solutions that daddress urban-rural gaps contributing to the poverty-depression cycle fueling the current mental health crisis and suicide rates. Employment and eeconomic disparities are not solved by mental heath expertise or treatments. Healthcare, housing, childcare, financial hardship and other challenges are not exclusive to any single cause or community, but they can mask and trigger mental illnesses making it more difficult to detect and address them with the appropriate treatments and expertise.

Data shows disability, poverty and suicide rates are all higher in rural counties than in urban areas. Traditional charities are limited by annual grants and fundraising cycles to pay expertise and operating costs before resources trickle down to help people or add programs. Meanwhile, government systems rely on policy to manage programs based on political will or available funding… neither is based on the needs or suffering in the community. Mountain Lifeworks uses data to identify contributing factors and the appropriate expertise, programs and solutions to address them.

Disparities in Suicide | CDC  

Colorado State Fact Sheet.pdf (nami.org)

Risk Factors, Warning Signs, What to Do (clevelandclinic.org)

PHILANTHROPIC components

MOUNTAIN LIFEWORKS balances charity and philanthropic tools to help combat depression and poverty, as well as the factors contributing to them. Philanthropy is focused on long-term solutions, while charity focuses on providing immediate relief. By complementing short-term charity assistance with long-term philanthropic strategies we can reduce suffering, while deploying real life solutions that combat the causes.

One-size-fits-all solutions help some, under-perform for others and fail the rest all together. Mountain Lifeworks balances traditional fundraising and awareness with commercial strategies and sustainable revenues to help establish and advance options and alternatives. Together they complement government and non-profits efforts, while building a qualified community-based menu of expertise and solutions.

People at Greater Risk of Suicide | SAMHSA

Suicide rising across the US | VitalSigns | CDC

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE components

Social enterprises operate at the intersection of commercial and non-profit sectors to balance generating revenues with re-investing in their philanthropic missions. From entrepreneurship to employment opportunities... social enterprise creates sustainable solutions to real life problems. Corporate Social Responsibility and supplier diversity models can be adapted to create real life solutions that help empower and elevate our most vulnerable and at-risk neighbors, while training and retaining community-based healthcare, education, childcare and other critical expertise.

MOUNTAIN LIFEWORKS helps establish and advance meaningful employment opportunities for individuals and small businesses that employ or are owned by local neurodivergent, disabled and caregivers populations. There are distinctions between awareness and advertising just like for-profit events differ from traditional fundraisers.  That's why we focus on a balanced approach tailored to help establish, sustain and advance a diverse menu of proven expertise and merit-based opportunities to maximize economic impacts and community benefits year-round.