DENVER — Dozens of teens in Colorado take their lives each year, but there are hundreds of resources in the state to help convince them that there is still hope.
Colorado made national headlines in 2016 when public officials identified a suicide cluster in which 29 children in the Colorado springs area took their own lives between 2013 and 2015 alone.
The issue, which experts say is preventable, reared its head again in 2017, when just weeks into the school year, two students in Arapahoe County took their own lives. Their deaths were the eighth of their kind in just eight months.
A state-funded program exists in Colorado specifically to guard against youth suicide, and they work with other programs to help families, teens and others learn what to look for and to know when to call.
"As part of Colorado crisis services, we have a text service for teens, and what happens 24/7 365, we have councilors responding to those texts," Bev Marquez, CEO of Colorado Crisis Hotline. "They're the same councilors who are picking up the phones. It's a good resource."
TEXT | 38255 — all texts will be answered for anybody who needs to talk.
CALL | 1-800-273-8255 or 1-844-493-8255 — all calls will be answered for anybody who needs to talk.
SITE | Find additional information and resources on this helpful site.
In Colorado, 12 walk-in sites are also permanently open for those in need of a person to speak with.
Westminster | 2551 W. 84th Ave., Westminster, CO 80031
Lakewood | 12055 W. 2nd Place, Lakewood, CO 80228
Boulder | 3180 Airport Road, Boulder, CO 80301
Denver | 4353 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80220
Littleton | 6509 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80120
Aurora | 2206 Victor St., Aurora, CO 80045
Fort Collins | 1217 Riverside Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80524
Greeley | 928 12th St., Greeley, CO 80631
Pueblo | 1310 Chinook Lane, Pueblo, CO 81001
Colorado Springs | 115 S. Parkside Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80910
Colorado Springs | 6071 E. Woodmen Rd. Ste. 135, Colorado Springs, CO 80923
Grand Junction | 515 28 3/4 Rd., Grand Junction, CO 81501
Nationwide, countless apps also exist for those needing information or a shoulder to lean on. Here are four of those apps and links to learn more about them:
Jason Foundation: A Friend Asks. The app on Android and iOS features information on suicide prevention training.
MY3. The app on Android and iOS is targeted at those who feel suicidal or severely depressed.
ASK & Prevent Suicide. The app on Android and iOS is a helpful resource that lists warning signs, among other useful information.
HELP Prevent Suicide. The app on Android and iOS has a simple interface and is a good resource for anybody who feels like they may need to talk.
