Youth suicide prevention resources
Youth suicide rates in Colorado are alarmingly high compared to the rest of the nation. The encouraging news is that there are many very effective suicide prevention programs being implemented that bring hope, optimism and recovery to people struggling with thoughts of suicide and their families.
Need help now? 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area, any time 24/7.
Who should call?
If you feel you are in a crisis, whether or not you are thinking about killing yourself, please call Lifeline. People have called us for help with substance abuse, economic worries, relationship, and family problems, sexual orientation, illness, getting over abuse, depression, mental and physical illness, and even loneliness.
If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, get help now
- The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24. Need help now? The Trevor Project hotline is available 24/7: 1-866-488-7386.
- Safe2Tell provides young people a way to report any threatening behaviors or activities endangering themselves or someone they know, in a way that keeps them safe and anonymous. By calling 1-877-542-7233 or submitting a tip through Safe2Tell’s website, young people can help anyone who’s in trouble or prevent a tragedy.
- The American Association of Suicidology promotes research, public awareness programs, public education and training for professionals and volunteers. In addition, AAS serves as a national clearinghouse for information on suicide.
- The National Association of School Psychologists empowers school psychologists by advancing effective practices to improve students’ learning, behavior, and mental health.
Push to get suicide prevention resources in your local schools
- Sources of Strength is a best-practice school suicide prevention program that emphasizes resilience and positive youth development.
- The Colorado School Safety Resource Center provides free consultation, resources, training and technical assistance to foster safe and secure learning environments, positive school climates, and early intervention to prevent crisis situations.
- Second Wind Fund decreases the incidence of teen suicide nationally by removing financial and social barriers to treatment for at-risk youth and working to create a network of local affiliates to provide such services in their own communities.
- Teen Link
For more information on suicide among Coloradans under 18, read the Child Fatality Prevention System annual legislative report for data on youth suicide and prevention recommendations.
How you can help prevent suicide
What can you do?
- Learn about the risk factors and warning signs from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
- Know someone who may be suicidal? Learn about what you can do to help keep them safe.
- Man Therapy is dedicated to smashing the notion that men shouldn’t talk about their feelings. Working-age men (25-64 years old) account for the largest number of suicide deaths in the United States. These men are the least likely to receive support, and they don’t talk about it with their friends/family or ask for professional treatment. Man Therapy is changing those perspectives.
- Youth suicide prevention resources.
- Connect with prevention efforts and resources in your local community using this list developed by the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado.
More information on suicide in Colorado
- In 2012, suicide was the seventh-leading cause of death for all Coloradans. Coloradans ages 45-64 demonstrated the highest number of suicide deaths (418) compared with all other age groups.
- Among youth and young adults ages 10-34, suicide is the leading cause of death. Suicide is a problem that impacts Coloradans regardless of age, race, ethnicity, income level, gender or sexual orientation.
- In 2012, there were 1,053 suicides among Colorado residents.
- This is the highest number and rate of suicide deaths ever recorded in Colorado and represents a 16 percent increase over the number of deaths in 2011. To compare, the number of suicide deaths in 2012 exceeded the number of deaths from homicide (205), motor vehicle crashes (457), influenza and pneumonia (524), breast cancer (585) and diabetes (798). In 2010, the most recent year of data available nationally, Colorado had the eighth-highest suicide rate in the United States and is consistently among the 10 states with the highest suicide rates.
Douglas County Mental Health Resources
MENTAL HEALTH
Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network
303-730-3303
8565 S. Poplar Way,
Littleton, Colorado 80130 SUICIDE PREVENTION
Sources of Strength
http://www.sourcesofstrength.org
sourcesofstrength@gmail.com
701-471-7186
South Metro HEARTBEAT
303-770-1859
Littleton Adventist Hospital
7700 S. Broadway, Littleton, CO
Southwest Metro HEARTBEAT
303.408.4782
Abiding Hope Lutheran Church
6337 S. Robb Way, Littleton, CO
Suicide Prevention and Intervention Network – SPIN
303-770-1859
8174 S Holly St #206, Centennial, CO 80122
Colorado Veterans Administration
719-553-1093
303-399-8020 x3093
Suicide and Mental Health Statewide Resources
Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention
http://www.coosp.org/
303-692-2539
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246-1530Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado
www.suicidepreventioncolorado.org
720-934-2387Colorado Division of Behavioral Health303-866-7400
3824 W. Princeton Circle, Denver, CO 80236
Mental Health America of Colorado
303-720-208-2220; Toll-free 800-456-3249
1385 S. Colorado Blvd., Ste. 610, Denver, CO 80222
University of Colorado Depression Center
303-724-3300
Building 500, MS F546, 13001 E. 17th Place, Aurora, CO 80045iCare packages contain books to assist the bereaved and lists of support groups and other organizations that exist to help people through this very difficult crisis. iCare packages are a program of the Carson J Spencer Foundation.
Carson J Spencer Foundation
www.carsonjspencer.org
303-837-8466
450 Lincoln St., Suite 100, Denver, CO 80203Sources of Strength
www.sourcesofstrength.org
sourcesofstrength@gmail.com
701-471-7186American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), Colorado Chapter
www.afsp.org/colorado
Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado
http://biacolorado.org
303-355-9969
Stressful life events, financial and otherwise, have a significant impact on those vulnerable to suicide where typical coping strategies are weakened by the effects of mental illness, substance use, short-term mental health reactions and a host of other risk factors associated with suicide. Learn more about all the risk factors and warning signs of suicide to watch for in your loved ones and how to take action to help.
