From Northeast Colorado Health Department
Sterling, Colo. – January 8, 2021:Mental wellness and suicide prevention are key public health issues. According to the Colorado Health Information Dataset, suicide is a leading cause of death among Colorado youth ages 10-24. The recent suicides in our region are a reminder that we can all play a part in preventing suicide. Our culture is often uncomfortable talking about mental health and/or suicide and there is often a stigma associated with asking for help. Suicide is complex and rarely the result of only one cause. There are often a variety of circumstances including relationship problems, financial hardships, chronic pain, bullying or feeling isolated, that contribute to someone feeling suicidal. There may or may not be underlying mental health diagnoses as well. A common response to suicide is to oversimplify the cause.