On Monday morning, La Plata County suffered its third suicide in a week, with the death of Matthew McKown, 33, at an apartment on Goeglein Gulch Road.
McKown had worked at Olde Tymer’s Café for the past nine years.
His suicide follows that of Escalante Middle School counselor Chad Novak on Sept. 16 and a 22-year-old discovered at the Iron Horse Inn on Saturday; Durango Police Department spokesman Lt. Ray Shupe identified the victim in the Saturday morning death as Cody Whitley.
“It’s highly unusual for us to have three suicides in a week,” Shupe said.
Coroner Jann Smith said autopsies on both Whitley and McKown will take place today.
La Plata County had 16 suicides in 2012 and nine in 2013. It’s the seventh-leading cause of death in the county, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
“Far too many Coloradans struggle with thoughts of suicide, and far too many die when they are unable to manage debilitating mental, emotional or physical pain,” said Jarrod Hindman, manager of the Office of Suicide Prevention for the department. “But suicide can be prevented. There are resources available for individuals and families in crisis, and many who struggle with suicidal thoughts go on to lead hopeful, happy and productive lives.”
Colorado’s suicide rate has been climbing steadily for a decade.
“We have a much higher suicide rate than the nation,” said Peter Tregillus, program director with Southern Ute Community Action Programs, which has developed a suicide-prevention training program. “We have done some work and have some systems in place, but we need more resources. That’s true all over the country for mental health, we need more resources.”
His wife, Liza Tregillus, is a social worker who works with young people and parents.
“I had a parent call me after Chad’s death, worried that her middle-school-aged child might be suicidal,” she said. “It’s OK to ask, ‘Are you suicidal?’ People are so scared they’re going to put the thought in someone’s head. But it’s better to ask, because it’s likely it’s already there.”
Peter Tregillus said just being asked the question might help.
“Often people feel relieved, feel like it takes the pressure off,” he said.
Suicide is rarely triggered by one thing, they said.
“It’s usually a perfect storm of circumstances,” Liza Tregillus said. “Worries about money, feeling like you’re not a good person or good for your kids, brain chemistry, probably alcohol or drugs. How do we speak to someone who’s in that dark place?”
While we have had three suicides in La Plata County in a short period, Peter Tregillus said it’s unlikely we’re experiencing an epidemic.
“Most of the time, these things are truly random,” Peter Tregillus said. “But one thing’s for sure: There’s no doubt suicides are really hard on the people who are connected to the people who die. We have all kinds of reactions in these emotionally intense situations. Some people get angry, some feel numb, some have delayed reactions down the road. I really recommend that people at least check in with Heartbeat.”
Heartbeat is an organization that provides support for people who have lost a loved one to suicide.
“Suicide is a harsh word that has devastating significance for those who have suffered a loss as the result of it,” Heartbeat’s literature says. “The grief that follows suicide is extremely difficult. It is magnified, complicated and isolating. The survivor must grieve not only the loss, but also the choice that caused the loss.”
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