{"id":75861,"date":"2017-11-26T16:38:50","date_gmt":"2017-11-26T23:38:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/colorado-identifies-montezuma-la-plata-as-priorities-for-suicide-prevention\/"},"modified":"2017-11-26T23:38:50","modified_gmt":"2017-11-26T23:38:50","slug":"colorado-identifies-montezuma-la-plata-as-priorities-for-suicide-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/colorado-identifies-montezuma-la-plata-as-priorities-for-suicide-prevention\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado identifies Montezuma, La Plata as priorities for suicide prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"\"
Durango Herald file<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The state Office of Suicide Prevention has identified La Plata and Montezuma counties as priority areas for comprehensive prevention efforts.<\/p>\n

The counties will be part of a collaborative effort between Colorado and national organizations to create a blueprint for preventing suicide here and in other states, said Sarah Brummett, director of the Office of Suicide Prevention<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other Colorado counties that are high-priority areas are El Paso, Pueblo, Larimer and Mesa.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal is to demonstrate it\u2019s possible to see an impact on state rates,\u201d Brummett said.<\/p>\n

Many people tend to think of suicide prevention as intervention with a suicidal person, but the collaboration seeks to create plans to reach people before they are in crisis and after someone has died by suicide. The effort will target veterans not connected to services, older adults, middle-aged men and youths.<\/p>\n

National groups that will be part of the collaboration include the Injury Control Research Center for Suicide Prevention, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The groups selected Colorado as a working partner because of the high number of people who die by suicide each year and high suicide rates. The groups are also interested because the state has a dedicated office of suicide prevention, a commission focused on the topic and Colorado Crisis Services, which includes a statewide hotline.<\/p>\n

Some western states with relatively low numbers of people who die by suicide have high rates because they have smaller populations, Brummett said.<\/p>\n

In 2016, there were 1,156 suicides in Colorado, representing the highest number of suicide deaths ever, according to the Office of Suicide Prevention Annual Report. Suicide is also the leading cause of death for young people 10 to 24 years old in Colorado.<\/p>\n

So far this year in La Plata County, there have been 19 suicides.<\/p>\n

In Montezuma County, nine people had died by suicide as of mid-November, Coroner George Deavers said.<\/p>\n

The prevention work has yet to receive funding, but meetings are ongoing, Brummett said.<\/p>\n

Once the effort is funded, Brummett expects the money would be granted to organizations within local communities to expand available resources. The intent is not to duplicate or replace anything communities are already doing, she said.<\/p>\n

Prevention efforts could include organizations such as first responders, the justice system, firearm communities and faith communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to take each and every organization working together to see this impact,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

For youths, having a caring and trusted adult in their lives and feeling connected to school can help prevent many negative health outcomes, including suicide, she said.<\/p>\n

After someone dies by suicide, about 120 people are deeply affected, Brummett said, so it is important for those people to have community support or a grief group to help them through the grieving process, which can be isolating.<\/p>\n

The specific efforts the state-national collaboration would fund have not been determined.<\/p>\n

mshinn@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Suicide Prevention Report (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Suicide resources<\/h4>\n

Help for people having suicidal thoughts or for those who fear a person is considering killing himself can be found from these sources:
\n Axis Health System:<\/strong>
\n 24-hour hotline at 247-5245.
\n National Suicide Prevention Hotline:<\/strong>
\n (800) 273-TALK (8255) or text \u201cTALK\u201d to 741741.
\n RED Nacional de Prevenci\u00f3N Del Suicidio:<\/strong>
\n (888) 628-9454.
\n National Crisis text Hotline:<\/strong>
\n 741741
\n Fort Lewis College Counseling Center:<\/strong>
\n 247-7212.
\n Boys Town Hotline:<\/strong>
\n (800) 448-3000.
\n Safe2Tell Colorado:<\/strong>
\n (877) 542-7233 or online at
\n https:\/\/safe2tell.org<\/a>
\n .
\n Colorado Crisis Support Line:<\/strong>
\n (844) 493-8255 or text \u201cTALK\u201d to 38255 or online at
\n http:\/\/www.coloradocrisisservices.org\/<\/a>
\n to access a live chat available in 17 languages. The line has mental-health professionals available to talk to adults or youths about any crisis, 24 hours a day.
\n Trevor Project:<\/strong>
\n (866) 488-7386. Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth via online chat, text or phone.
\n Southern Ute Community ACtion Program:<\/strong>
\n Visit
\n www.sucap.org<\/a>
\n and click on Suicide Prevention for a list of trained gatekeepers.
\n Second Wind Fund:<\/strong>
\n (720) 962-0706. This is not a crisis hotline, but the fund is available to youths who face social or financial barriers to crisis counseling. The organization requires a referral by a school counselor or mental-health professional.
\n Survivors Support Group:<\/strong>
\n Heartbeat of Durango meets from 6 to 8 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave. Contact Janna at 749-1673.
\n American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:<\/strong>
\n Colorado chapter information available at
\n https:\/\/afsp.org\/chapter\/afsp-colorado\/<\/a>
\n For Men:<\/strong>
\n A website for adult men contemplating suicide, who often are unwilling to seek help, is available at
\n www.mantherapy.org<\/a>
\n .<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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