Who We Are

The CU Anschutz Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center is part of the National Network of Depression Centers (NNDC)—a select group of the nation’s top academic medical centers dedicated to advancing care for mood disorders. Alongside institutions such as Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania, we collaborate to transform how depression and bipolar disorder are understood and treated.

The NNDC was established through a gift from George Wiegers, modeled after the successful National Comprehensive Cancer Network. His vision was clear: bring together the brightest minds in research, prevention, and care to accelerate new treatments and reduce the stigma of mental illness—just as collaboration helped revolutionize cancer care in the 1970s.

Today, the NNDC connects 26 leading Centers of Excellence across the U.S., united in the mission to improve outcomes for people living with depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. By working together, we’re not only improving care—we’re paving the way toward a cure.

Implement programs and partnerships to raise people’s “mental health IQ,” educate the public, and promote the idea that mental health is part of physical health.

Highlight the effectiveness and benefits of prevention efforts and early intervention in improving outcomes.

Collaborate with individuals, organizations, and communities to strengthen resilience and promote overall mental wellness.

Continually grow the Depression Center’s knowledge and provide high-quality, evidence-based treatments for mood disorders.

Encourage active engagement, self-management, and stronger involvement of patients and their families in care.

Build partnerships that increase collaboration and ensure treatment decisions are made together with patients

Disseminate effective treatments and strategies by training health and mental health professionals across Colorado.

Work with larger systems to design and implement new, more effective models of care delivery

Conduct research to develop and refine new treatments and improve the ability to identify people with mood disorders earlier and more accurately.

Engage community leaders, schools, the military, first responders, healthcare providers, and government to increase understanding of mental health.

Promote the wider integration of mental health services within primary care settings for more seamless support.

Work with health plans, employers, EAPs, insurers, and wellness programs to address systemic obstacles to care.

Develop data-driven approaches to guide smarter policies and more effective integration of mental health care.

Promote new financial models and policy changes that make better models of care sustainable.