Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention
While statistics vary across Colorado, substance abuse and suicidal ideation and completion continue to be higher in western Colorado compared to other counties across our state. In addition, access to resources in our rural communities remains a challenge for youth and families. Mesa County, home to the largest school district in the seven counties we serve, continues to struggle with higher than state and national averages for suicide ideation and completion, and substance abuse by youth.
Our Community Foundation funds many efforts across the counties we serve to help address the dual challenges of substance abuse and suicide among youth. Prevention efforts include:
Social Worlds and Youth Wellbeing: Multi-year suicide prevention and wellness study in Mesa County
This project began with seed funding from the Western Colorado Community Foundation awarded in 2019 to Anna S. Mueller, Principal Investigator (PI) and Sarah Diefendorf (Co-PI). In August 2021, the researchers were awarded approximately $1.2 million from the National Institutes of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors.
The Social Worlds & Youth Wellbeing (SWYWB) study aims to advance understanding of how schools can effectively and efficiently work to prevent suicide and respond to suicide losses. The researchers approach this work as a partnership with school districts, schools and the larger community, where knowledge and action steps are identified and co-produced to help keep kids as safe and happy as possible.
Working with five high schools and two middle schools in Mesa County, the goals of the study include:
- Understand how schools work to prevent suicide and support student well-being;
- Identify elements that impede or enhance multi-tiered suicide prevention strategies in schools and their districts;
- Leverage this knowledge to develop sustainable, effective, and equitable strategies schools can use to prevent suicide among youth.
Click here to learn more about the SW&YWB study.
Active engagement and participation with these local steering committees help our Community Foundation identify and support locally developed solutions aimed at substance abuse and suicide prevention for youth in Mesa county.
Colorado National Collaboration/Mesa County Suicide Prevention Task Force is a partnership of professionals, organizations, and community members working on community-based strategies to prevent suicides in Mesa County and working toward the goal of reducing suicides by 20% by 2024.
Mesa County Opioid Response Group is a community collaboration of partner organizations who provide community trainings and substance abuse recovery support.
Region 13 Opioid Crisis Recovery Funds Steering Committee tasked with advising and collaborating with the Department of Law on the use of any funds received by Colorado to adress opioid addiction-related problems.
State and National Resources for Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention for Youth
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Regional Resources for Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention for Youth
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- Read the most recent Mesa County Suicide Report (all ages) and see the list of partners working locally to address this issue.
- Western Colorado Opioid Response Group (MCORG) is facilitated by the Western Colorado Area Health Education Center (WCAHEC). They offer Opioid and Substance Use Education for nonprofits, businesses, and community groups. WCAHEC also offers “Not Prescribed”, a presentation aimed at Middle and High School aged students developed by Rise Above Colorado, for both Mesa and Delta county school districts, and now facilitate annual Opioid Awareness Weeks for schools.
- Statewide and National Resources for Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention for Youth
- Best Practices for Media/Public Campaigns to Increase Awareness and Prevent Suicide
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Dial 988 to connect directly with suicide prevention and mental healtah crisis counselors.
About 988
988 is a nation-wide, three- digit phone number for Americans in crisis to connect directly with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors. Similar to dialing 911 for an emergency, anyone including youth and people with disabilities can dial or text 988 to be immediately connected to a live person to help with a mental health crisis. For more information, visit Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)