Colorado Ranch Treats Mental Health Issues with Farm Animals

There's no denying that taking care of one's mental health is absolutely essential, and according to Jena Hausmann, CEO of Colorado's Children Hospital, “Colorado Declares State of Emergency for Youth Mental Health.”

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Because of this, one group in Colorado runs multiple programs from a ranch with the goal of helping troubled teens with mental health issues become more resilient with the help of a variety of farm animals.

Colorado Ranch Helps Troubled Teens with Farm Animals

The group goes by the name The Aspen Effect and operates out of a ranch in Sedalia, Colorado, called Mane Mission.

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According to The Aspen Effect's official website, the group's mission is to help young people "become more resilient by connecting with people, animals and the outdoors." The programs focus on issues such as substance abuse in teens and general mental health issues.

As you can see in the video above, the Mane Mission from which The Aspen Effect operates is home to a plethora of adorable farm animals, including horses and goats, but they aren't there simply to look cute.

The troubled teens that enroll in The Aspen Effect's programs truly get to know the animals and create bonds with them while essentially working as ranch hands, taking care of the furry friends.

Since its inception in 2017, The Aspen Effect has helped over 450 youths and plans to add 250 more in 2025 alone.

Check out The Aspen Effect's official website for more info.