The Roaring Fork High School in Carbondale, Colorado, was the site of a community forum hosted by the Aspen Hope Center, Wednesday May 29, 2014. The topic, in general, was mental health; specifically, suicide awareness and prevention.
In addition to professionals from Garfield County Public Health, Aspen Hope Center, NAMI Roaring Fork, our own Kim Nuzzo, and The Buddy Program, local residents bravely stepped up to the podium to share their personal stories of suicide and mental illness.
Staggering facts noted during the forum included:
- 105 people, daily, die from suicide (1 person every 14 minutes) nationally
- For every 1 suicide, there are 25 attempts
- 1 in 4 people suffer from mental illness annually
- 20% of youth, ages 13-18, suffer from severe mental health disorders
- 70% of youth in juvenile detention have at least one mental health condition
- In the age bracket of 15-19 years, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death
- There are approximately 17 suicides annually in the Roaring Fork Valley
- 60% of adults and 50% of youth receive no treatment for mental health disorders
- Half of all chronic mental illnesses begin by age of 14
- 80% of patients in treatment for mental health disorders denied to their practitioner they were suicidal
- WARNING SIGNS ARE ALWAYS PRESENT
The Aspen Hope Center teaches a one-hour suicide prevention course. Take the time to call them at 970-925-5858
Janet DeMars
Program Director
Jaywalker U
