Preventing Suicide in Colorado
Overview
Colorado has one of the highest suicide rates of any state in the country. In 2007, more lives were lost to suicide in Colorado (805) than in motor vehicle accidents or from illnesses such as diabetes, pneumonia or breast cancer. The impact of lives lost is a social, emotional and economic burden for our state and its residents, and the loss of lives is preventable.
The report Preventing Suicide in Colorado – Progress Achieved & Goals for the Future, issued jointly by Mental Health America of Colorado and The Colorado Trust, updated both the state’s 1998 Suicide Prevention and Intervention Plan to address Colorado’s historically high suicide rate, as well as The Trust’s 2002 report Suicide in Colorado, which documented the problem of suicide across the state and identified suicide-prevention resources. This report detailed key facts and figures about the suicide rate in Colorado, many of the prevention achievements in the past 10 years, and recommendations to strengthen suicide prevention and awareness efforts into the future.
Grantees
- Colorado West Regional Mental Health Center
- Jefferson Center for Mental Health
- Midwestern Colorado Mental Health Center
- Rural Solutions
- Southeast Mental Health Services
- Suicide Education & Support Services
- Suicide Prevention Partnership of Pikes Peak Region
- The Piñon Project Family Resource Center
- Mesa County Suicide Prevention Coalition (Western Colorado Suicide Prevention Foundation)
Evaluation Findings
An independent evaluation was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the 10 community grantees’ gatekeeper trainings. Gatekeeper programs are educational programs designed to help community members recognize those contemplating suicide and refer them to appropriate caregivers. In addition, three of the grantee programs were evaluated in depth as case studies.
