LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Support BOE candidates who support health care

Editor: It is time for new perspectives on the District 51 school board.

Palisade High School and Fruita Monument High School deserve School Based Health Clinics (SBHCs).

Consider the evidence for SBHCs.

Students who attend schools with associated health clinics, compared to students who attend schools without health clinics:

■ Have higher grades

■ Attain higher rates of graduation

■ Have lower rates of absenteeism

■ Have lower rates of emergency room visits

■ Have lower health care costs The functional core of SBHCs is mental health care. This is a crucial issue in our community where behavioral health services have been problematic for decades. Recall that Mesa County has the highest suicide rate (31 suicides per 100,000 population) in Colorado (21.1/100,000) and over twice the national suicide rate (13.9/100,000).

The three incumbent school board members up for reelection initially voted against the clinic at Grand Junction High School.

All three of the challenger candidates have expressed support for School Based Health Clinics.

I encourage you to vote for Kaci Cole, Mike Rathbone, and Vicki Woods.

PHIL MOHLER, M.D.

Grand Junction