Mental Health

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255

The Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Colorado Crisis Services 1-844-493-8255

If you do not know where to begin getting mental health, substance use or emotional help for yourself or someone you know—start here. The Colorado Crisis Services provides confidential and immediate support, 24/7/365. If you are in crisis or need help dealing with one, call this toll-free number 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255 to speak to a trained professional.

The Healthy Kids Colorado Survey provides data to better understand the health of Colorado’s middle and high school students so we can support them in making healthy choices. The following data represent the rates of teen suicide in the state of Colorado, compared to the rest of the nation, as well as Pueblo County alone, all from 2017. Providing the proper education and resources to today’s youth is crucial in helping to decrease death by suicide and helping them to understand that any of the pain they might be facing is only temporary.

Students who seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months:
Pueblo 24.2%
Colorado 17.0%
United States 17.2%

Students who attempted suicide in the past 12 months:
Pueblo 9.7%
Colorado 7.0%
United States 7.4%

Students who felt sad or hopeless every day for 2+ weeks in the past 12 months:
Pueblo 38.2%
Colorado 31.4%
United States 31.5%

Maternal Mental Health

Suicide is one of the three leading causes of maternal deaths, and at least 1 in 7 mothers in the United States experience serious depression or anxiety during pregnancy or postpartum. In a 2013 study conducted in Portland, Oregon, 10,000 women were screened for postpartum depression 4-6 weeks after delivery. Of those 10,000, 21% of women were diagnosed with postpartum depression, and 22.6% were diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Women thinking about becoming pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or who have given birth are in need of the proper resources to get help if they experiencing any abnormal symptoms before, during, or after pregnancy. A companion or advocate present during pregnancy and at least for the first year postpartum is strongly recommended, as well as having a supportive professional to talk about mental health and mood disorders.

If you have questions about where to seek help locally or about mental health/suicide prevention trainings, please contact:

Lindsey Dunbar
dunbar@pueblocounty.us

Colter DeWitt
colter.dewitt@pueblocounty.us

The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Pueblo County (SPCPC) was founded in October 2018 in response to a need for suicide prevention efforts in Pueblo County. It is comprised of local agencies and community members.

Mission

Utilizing the Colorado National Collaborative's structural design, SPCPC will decrease the rate of suicide by 20% by 2024 through improving connectedness, increasing economic stability, providing education and awareness, improving access to responsive care, endorsing lethal means safety, and placing importance on postvention.

Vision

To promote a positive culture of change and a more united community through connectedness, fortification, and sustainability.

Please like SPCPC on Facebook: facebook.com/pueblosuicideprevention

January

Mental Wellness Month

February

American Heart Month

2/17 National Random Act of Kindness Day

March

Self-Harm Awareness Month

3/15 World Sleep Day

3/30 World Bipolar Day

April

Alcohol Awareness Month

Stress Awareness Month

National Autism Awareness Month

National Counseling Awareness Month

4/16 National Stress Awareness Day

May

Mental Health Month

National Maternal Depression Awareness Month

Self-Discovery Month

Women’s Health Month

5/9 is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day

June

National PTSD Awareness Month

Men’s Health Month

6/27 is National PTSD Awareness Day

July

National Minority Mental Health Month

September

National Recovery Month

National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month

9/10 World Suicide Prevention Day

October

National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month

ADHD Awareness Month

Bullying Prevention Month

10/10 World Mental Health/National Depression Screening Day

November

3rd Saturday of November is International Survivors of Suicide Day

week before Thanksgiving is National Family Health History Day

December

National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month

12/3 International Day of Persons With Disabilities Day