Help is there when you need it.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255
If you’re having a mental health crisis, call Colorado Crisis Services.
You can call their free hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 844-493-TALK (844-493-8255) or text TALK to 38255.
Do you need help?
Click here for a list of free and private resources. You can also talk to your doctor, family, and friends. If you don’t have a doctor, we can help you find one. Call us at 866-833-5717. Or find one online at coaccess.com. There is a link to our directory on the homepage of our website.
These local organizations can also help if you or someone you care about need it:
Suicide is a public health problem with far-reaching effects.
It is the tenth cause of death in the United States.
1,287 Coloradans lost their lives to suicide in 2019. This was an increase from 2018. It was also a higher number of suicides than has ever before been recorded in the state.
In 2019, American adults:
Who seriously thought about suicide: 12 million
Who made a planned suicide attempt: 3.5 million
Who attempted suicide: 1.4 million
People who have experienced violence are at a higher risk for suicide. This means things like child abuse, bullying, or sexual violence.
Risk Factors
People of all genders, ages, and ethnicities can be at risk for suicide. Suicidal behavior is complex. It has no single cause. Many things can lead to suicide attempts.
People at risk for suicide often have depression, substance use disorder, chronic pain, and physical or sexual abuse. Click here to learn more about the other main risk factors of suicide.
Mental Health
Mental health is just as important as physical health. It is a big part of your overall health. It is made of your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how you think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how you handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.
It’s okay to feel anxious or depressed. In the past year, 30.8% of adults in Colorado reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. If your symptoms get worse or last for a long time, get help.
Here are some tips on how to start to talk about mental health with your family and friends. You can also use the five action steps from the National Institute of Mental Health. These can be a valuable tool for helping someone in emotional pain.
Warning Signs
Adults may be at higher risk of suicide as they get older. The “four D’s” are warning signs of suicide risk in older adults:
Depression. This means clinical depression.
Debility. This means medical conditions that impact the person’s ability to do things that are meaningful to them.
Disconnectedness. This means losing opportunities for social interactions.
Deadly. This means access to a firearm. 75% of older adults who take their own lives use a firearm.
Click here to learn more about the 4 D’s.
More Resources
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)