Vail Health’s biannual behavioral health survey is accepting responses through February 7 to assess the state of behavioral health in Eagle and Summit counties and guide resource allocation for behavioral health programs. The anonymous survey is open to everyone ages 18 and older living and working in Eagle County, with similar surveys available for Summit County residents and eight other mountain resort communities. According to Dana Erpelding, vice president of behavioral health operations, “The purpose of the survey is to evaluate behavioral health needs and perspectives of community members in Eagle County.”
Survey Development and Comparison
The health system has administered the survey every other year since 2020 in partnership with the Katz Amsterdam Foundation, a family nonprofit founded by Rob Katz and Elana Amsterdam that supports behavioral health and substance abuse work in mountain communities. Survey questions, selected by the foundation, have remained consistent to measure changes over time. The first survey was conducted before the pandemic, providing a baseline for assessing behavioral health perspectives. By administering the survey across 10 rural resort communities, Vail Health has compared outcomes across communities. When communities achieve success with programs, organizers share lessons learned with others struggling with similar challenges.
Community Impact and Investment
Vail Health has centered improving behavioral health outcomes through hiring therapists, psychiatrists, case managers, and school-based clinicians. The Katz Amsterdam Foundation contributes around $500,000 annually to fund behavioral health action within Eagle County, which supports local partners like My Future Pathways and RECONNECTED. According to Erpelding, “Historically, there has been a gap in substance use programs, particularly around alcohol use in our mountain community.” Survey data identified this need, leading to investments supporting nonprofits like RECONNECTED. Survey organizers are seeking a minimum of 800 responses, with the survey taking about 10 to 15 minutes to complete in English or Spanish. Results will be released in spring or early summer 2026.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.vaildaily.com/news/vail-healths-behavioral-health-survey-seeks-community-responses/