Teen Suicide Links and Resources

Teen Suicide Links
Suicide Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE
Bryce Mackie/"Eternal High" www.battlecreekenquirer.com
Colorado Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health www.coloradofederation.org
Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention www.cdphe.state.co.us/pp/Suicide/suicidehom.asp
Community Reach Center www.communityreachcenter.com/
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance www.endteensuicide.org/
End Teen Suicide www.denvergov.org/aboutdenver/today_driving_beat.asp
Heartbeat Suicide Grief Support www.heartbeatsurvivorsaftersuicide.org/
Jefferson Center for Mental Health www.jeffersonmentalhealth.org/
Mental Health Association of Colorado www.mhacolorado.org/
MindZone: A Mental Health Site for Teens www.copecaredeal.org/
Second Wind/Jefferson Foundation www.thesecondwindfund.org/
Shaka Franklin Foundation for Youth www.shaka.org/
Suicide Prevention Partnership www.dbsacoloradosprings.org/
Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention www.yellowribbon.org/

      Suicide Prevention Resources

Hotline
Call the Suicide Hotline at: 1-800-SUICIDE, if you or someone you know is in suicidal crisis.

 

Suicide Prevention Networks/Support Groups

Colorado Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
P.O. Box 200188
Denver, CO 80220
Phone: 303-572-0302
Fax: 303-572-0304
Email: thefederation@uswest.net
Website: www.coloradofederation.org

 

Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South PSD-A4
Denver, CO 80246-1530
Phone: 303-692-2539
Fax: 303-691-7901
Email: cdphe.psdrequests@state.co.us
Website: www.coloradofederation.org

 

The Colorado Trust’s Suicide Prevention Initiative
1600 Sherman Street
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: 303-837-1200
Toll-free: 888-847-9140
Website: www.coloradotrust.org

 

Community Reach Center

8931 Huron Street
Thornton, CO 80260
Phone: 303-853-3500
Fax: 303-426-9340
Website: www.communityreachcenter.com/

 

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance / Aurora
Contact: Carol Stowell
Phone: 303-329-9894
Contact Don Robertson
Phone: 303-617-0057

Website: www.endteensuicide.org

 

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance / Denver
Contact Patrick Barry
Phone: 303-369-8514, ext. 1219
Email: patbarry@copper.net

Website: www.endteensuicide.org

 

Heartbeat Suicide Grief Support
8174 S. Holly St #206
Centennial, CO 80122
Phone: 303-770-1859

Meetings at: Littleton Adventist Hospital

7700 S. Broadway - Littleton, Co 80122 - 303-730-8900
Website: wwww.spinheartbeat.com

 

Jefferson Center for Mental Health
9485 W. Colfax Avenue
Lakewood, CO 80215
Phone: 303-432-5503
Website: www.jeffersonmentalhealth.org

Mental Health Association of Colorado
1385 S. Colorado Blvd., Ste. 610
Denver, CO 80222
Direct Line: 720-208-2220
Toll-free: 800-456-3249
Fax: 720-208-2250
Email: mentalhealth@mhacolorado.org
Website: www.mhacolorado.org/

 

MindZone: A Mental Health Site for Teens
Coordinated by the Annenberg Foundation Trust
Website: www.copecaredeal.org/.org

 

Second Wind Fund
Jeff Lamontagne
Executive Director Second Wind Fund of Metro Denver
jlamontagne@thesecondwindfund.org
12567 W. Cedar Dr., #102
Lakewood, CO 80228
Phone: 720-962-0706

Website:
Denver Site:  www.swfmd.org
National Site: www.thesecondwindfund.org/ thesecondwindfund.org

 

The Shaka Franklin Foundation for Youth
8101 E. Dartmouth Ave., Number 11
Denver, CO 80231
Phone: 303-337-2515
Website: www.shaka.org/

 

Suicide Prevention Intervention Network (SPIN)
Littleton Adventist Hospital
7700 S. Broadway
Littleton, Co 80122

Phone: 303-770-1859
Fax: 303-770-1859

Website: wwww.spinheartbeat.com

 

Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention
International Suicide Prevention Program
P.O. Box 644
Westminster, CO 80036-0644
Email: Ask4help@yellowribbon.org
Phone: 303-429-3530
Website: www.yellowribbon.org/.org

 

Facts on Teen Suicide

Thoughts about suicide can affect anyone, anywhere, at any time in life -- not just those who may currently suffer from a mental illness. Teens can be especially at risk.

 

• One in every eight teens experiences major depressive episodes that go untreated.
• One in every five teens has thoughts of suicide.
• Nearly 6,000 teenagers commit suicide each year.
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among those aged 15-24.
• The ratio of male to female suicides is four to one; however, young women attempt suicide four times more frequently.
• Reports of suicide clusters, in which one suicide triggers several others within a school or community, have increased.

Suicide In Colorado

• Every year, Colorado records roughly 800 suicide deaths and an estimated 9,600 suicide attempts.
• Often those who contemplate suicide may also suffer from depression, other forms of mental illness and substance abuse.
• At least half of those at risk for suicide are not seeking any type of professional services for the problem. This is particularly true for young people.
• The Rocky Mountain region has the highest suicide rate in the country.
• In 2002, the suicide death rate in Colorado was more than 16 people per 100,000, making it the 8th highest in the country and considerably higher than the national average.
• An estimated 9,600 Coloradans seriously contemplate suicide each year and approximately one-half to two-thirds of these individuals are not being treated for their suicidal symptoms.

What are the Signs that Someone is Considering Suicide?

• Giving away prized possessions
• Feelings of hopelessness or rejection
• Depression, in the form of loss of appetite, weight loss, change in sleeping habits, or change in personality
• Low self-esteem
• Withdraws from regular activities with family or Friends Hospital
• Slipping in school performance
• Talk of suicide, death, or earlier attempts at suicide
• Abuse of alcohol or drugs

What Can You Do?

• If someone you know brings up the subject of suicide, take them seriously.
• Reassure them that they have someone to turn to, a friend to help them.
• Don’t lecture about the reasons a person has to live, listen to them.
• If someone tells you they are suicidal and they make you promise not to tell anyone, it is important that you tell someone else immediately. It's more important to have your friend alive, than dead. They can forgive you later.
• Contact someone for help. Depressive disorders respond well to psychotherapy treatments or the appropriate medication.

• Places Where You Can Go for Help

  • In a medical emergency, call 911.
  • If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call 1-800-SUICIDE and talk to someone anonymously.
  • Call your family physician.
  • Talk with a teacher, principal or any other trusted adult or call your local crisis intervention center immediately. You may be feeling hurt, tired, alone, depressed, scared, angry, hopeless, or unloved, and it may seem that things will never get better. However, no matter how overwhelming your problems seem, confidential help really is available.

Speakers and Presentation Resources

Speakers for schools, youth groups, community groups, and faith-based organizations

Bryce Mackie, Survivor/Filmmaker ("Eternal High")
Phone: 269-579-3150

Suicide Prevention Partnership
Speaker’s Bureau
Phone: 719-573-7447
Email: prevent@sppppr.org
Website: www.dbsacoloradosprings.org

DVD copies of the MetroBeat TV Special, "Student Voices: Teen Suicide"

MetroBeat TV Steve Hansen Phone: 720 236-9779 Email: Mcbunsen@msn.com Website: http://www.metrobeat.tv

 

Information courtesy of the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention, August 2006.