Axis Integrated Mental Health Wins Denver Business Journal Partners in Philanthropy Award

Local Mental Health Leader Axis Integrated Mental Health Wins Prestigious Denver Business Journal Partners in Philanthropy Award

Colorado's Top Startup of the Year recognized for community-first approach to mental healthcare during state budget crisis

Axis Integrated Mental Health, the locally-owned mental health clinic previously named ColoradoBiz Magazine's Top Startup of the Year, has been awarded the prestigious Denver Business Journal Partners in Philanthropy Award. This recognition comes at a critical time as Colorado faces unprecedented budget cuts during the state's worst mental health crisis in history.

Why This Award Matters for Colorado Mental Health

The Partners in Philanthropy Award recognizes organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to community service and social impact. For Axis Integrated Mental Health, this honor validates a core philosophy: that patient care and community investment must come before profit margins.

"This award comes as Colorado faces unprecedented budget cuts during our worst mental health crisis ever," said Christopher Perez, CEO and founder of Axis Integrated Mental Health. "Every patient who can't access care is someone's spouse, parent, or child – and every family worrying about their loved one represents energy that could be channeled into solutions. Business philanthropy can transform that collective worry into healing that keeps all our communities safer."

Local Mental Health Care vs. National Chains: The Axis Difference

While national mental health corporations continue expanding across Colorado with standardized, high-volume care models, Axis Integrated Mental Health represents a fundamentally different approach to mental health in Colorado.

Community Investment Over Profit Extraction

"When you choose a locally-owned practice, your healthcare dollars stay in Colorado – funding local jobs, local philanthropy, and local solutions," explains Perez. "National chains extract profits to distant shareholders while we reinvest everything back into the communities where we live and raise our families."

This commitment to local investment has resulted in:

• Over $400,000 in pro bono mental health care provided to underserved Colorado populations
• Free TMS scholarships for first responders battling PTSD and depression
• The 266K Project addresses Colorado's suicide crisis through grassroots prevention initiatives
• Transportation assistance programs are removing barriers for patients in need

Rapid Access to Mental Health Care When Coloradans Need It Most

One of the most significant advantages of choosing local mental health care is speed of access. While national competitors maintain months-long waitlists, Axis Integrated Mental Health delivers integrated mental health care within 7 days, ensuring Colorado families can see a Colorado psychiatric provider who lives and works in their communities within one week.

"At a national chain, getting approval for a patient's urgent needs requires calls to corporate headquarters in another state," notes Perez. "Here, we can make that decision in the hallway because we know our patients personally and understand what Colorado families are facing."

Integrated Mental Health Care: A Colorado-Focused Solution

Unlike fragmented care systems that force patients to navigate multiple providers across different locations, Axis Integrated Mental Health combines psychiatry, therapy, and advanced treatments like Deep TMS and Spravato under one roof.

This integrated approach specifically addresses Colorado's unique mental health challenges:

• Altitude-related mood changes affecting many Colorado residents
• Seasonal Affective Disorder is prevalent in mountain communities
• Outdoor lifestyle integration in treatment planning

Advanced Mental Health Treatments Accessible to All Coloradans

Co-founder Liesl Perez emphasizes the clinic's commitment to treatment accessibility: "What makes me proudest is watching our team choose the mission over the easy path every single time – whether that's providing pro bono care, advocating for a patient's needs, or staying late to ensure someone gets the help they need. This award validates that their heart-centered approach to mental healthcare is exactly what our community needs."

Mental Health Care During Colorado's Budget Crisis

The timing of this recognition is particularly significant as Colorado prepares for a special legislative session to address a $700 million budget shortfall caused by federal legislation. With safety net programs facing potential cuts, the role of community-focused businesses becomes even more critical.

"Corporate chains scale efficiency, but we scale compassion," explains Perez. "They optimize for shareholder returns while we optimize for neighbor recovery. That's why we can offer $400,000 in pro bono care – because our success is measured by community health, not just profit margins."

Award-Winning Mental Health Services Across the Denver Metro

Axis Integrated Mental Health serves patients throughout the Denver metropolitan area with locations in Denver, Boulder, and Westminster. The clinic specializes in treating:

• Anxiety disorders and panic attacks
• Depression including treatment-resistant depression
• PTSD particularly for first responders and veterans
• ADHD in both adults and adolescents
• Bipolar disorder and mood stabilization
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Insurance Acceptance and Financial Accessibility

Unlike many providers who reserve advanced treatments for cash-pay patients, Axis Integrated Mental Health accepts common insurance plans like Anthem, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, and Medicaid and provides advanced treatments like Deep TMS and Spravato, making cutting-edge mental health care accessible to all Coloradans.

Community Recognition Validates Patient-First Approach

The Denver Business Journal Partners in Philanthropy Award joins other recent recognition for Axis Integrated Mental Health, including:

• ColoradoBiz Magazine Top Startup of the Year and Top 100 Woman-Owned Business
• Colorado Companies to Watch
• Best of Mile High Mental Wellness Award in both 2024 and 2025
• First responder mental health advocacy providing free treatment for PTSD and depression

"You'll never find the CEO of a national mental health chain at King Soopers or their kids' track meets," notes Perez. "We're not just your healthcare providers – we're your neighbors, and that accountability changes everything."

The Future of Mental Health Care in Colorado

As Colorado continues facing mental health workforce shortages and access challenges, the success of community-focused providers like Axis Integrated Mental Health demonstrates that local solutions can outperform corporate alternatives.

The clinic's model proves that mental health practices can be both financially sustainable and community-focused, providing a blueprint for other healthcare entrepreneurs seeking to prioritize patient outcomes over profit maximization.

About Axis Integrated Mental Health

Founded as a family-owned practice, Axis Integrated Mental Health has grown into Colorado's leading local mental health provider. The clinic specializes in integrated care combining traditional therapy with advanced treatments, while maintaining its commitment to accessibility and community service.

Axis Integrated Mental Health is proud to be a locally-owned, minority-owned business serving the Denver metropolitan area with locations in Aurora, Louisville, and Westminster or telehealth across Colorado.

For more information about Axis Integrated Mental Health and their award-winning community programs, visit www.axismh.com or call (720) 400-7025 to schedule an appointment.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, or visit your nearest emergency room. Axis Integrated Mental Health is committed to providing accessible, community-focused mental health care to all Coloradans.