Suicide Prevention

Need help now? 1-844-493-TALK (8255) to reach Colorado Crisis Services, and you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor 24/7/365.

Has your school recently lost a student to suicide? Use the American Association of Suicidology's After a Suicide: A Tool Kit for Schools resource guide.

SAMHSA’s Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools is a great resource for high schools in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention planning. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools provides guidance for schools specifically on how to respond to the suicide death of a student.

See below for additional resources for suicide prevention:
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Office of Suicide Prevention (OSP) is the designated state lead for suicide prevention coordination for all ages in Colorado. The OSP supports local public health by providing data, tools, resources and expertise to further suicide prevention efforts in Colorado.  The OSP has several strategic focus areas that local public health departments can help move forward. By prioritizing the initiatives listed below, local communities will expand the impact of these efforts across the state.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Resources - the goal of suicide prevention is to reduce factors that increase risk and increase factors that promote resilience.


Man Therapy
Man Therapy is dedicated to smashing the notion that men shouldn't talk about their feelings. Working-age men (25-64 years old) account for the largest number of suicide deaths in the United States. These men are the least likely to receive support, and they don't talk about it with their friends/family or ask for professional treatment. Man Therapy is changing those perspectives.

Services the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) for Colorado callers. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is made up of call centers around the country, and its website contains additional helpful information pertinent to suicide prevention in the USA.

The leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24. Need help now? The Trevor Project hotline is available 24/7: 1-866-488-7386.

A best-practice school suicide prevention program that emphasizes resilience and positive youth development. Sources of Strength utilizes the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture and ultimately prevent suicide, bullying and substance abuse. The program is designed to prevent suicide by increasing help seeking behaviors and connections between peers and caring adults with a focus on Hope, Help and Strength. Sources of Strength takes a different approach in youth suicide prevention by moving beyond a singular focus on risk factors through building multiple sources of support around young individuals so that when times get hard they have strengths to rely on.

Designed to teach adults how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.

A proven five-phase change process that uses prevention science to promote healthy youth development, improve youth outcomes, and reduce problem behaviors.

Provides free consultation, resources, training and technical assistance to foster safe and secure learning environments, positive school climates, and early intervention to prevent crisis situations. We support schools and local agencies in their efforts to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from all types of emergencies and crisis situations.

A Colorado-based nonprofit that removes financial and social barriers to provide treatment for youth (up to age 19) experiencing thoughts of suicide. SWF actively seeks to promote access, equity, and inclusiveness.

American Association of Suicidology (AAS)
AAS is a membership organization for all those involved in suicide prevention and intervention, or touched by suicide. AAS is a leader in the advancement of scientific and programmatic efforts in suicide prevention through research, education and training, the development of standards and resources, and survivor support services.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
AFSP is the nation’s leading non-profit organization bringing together people across communities and backgrounds to understand and prevent suicide, and to help heal the pain it causes. Individuals, families, and communities who have been personally touched by suicide are the moving force behind everything they do. The Colorado Chapter of AFSP was chartered in June 2012. The Chapter serves Colorado by bringing 
suicide prevention and awareness programs and survivor support initiatives to communities across the state.
  
LivingWorks’ programs are standardized, conducted by local trainers, and can be tailored to each community.
  • The Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) workshop is for caregivers who want to feel more comfortable, confident and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide.
  • safeTALK is about three hours in duration, is a training that prepares anyone over the age of 15 to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide first aid resources. Most people with thoughts of suicide invite help to stay safe.

The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado (SPCC) is a non-profit who works with its network of organizations and individuals to ensure everyone in Colorado has access to the best resources, educational opportunities, and advocacy efforts through advocacy, collaboration, and education. SPCC’s purpose is to prevent suicide and create a resource network for those who are working to prevent suicide around the state. SPCC has a statewide directory of resources and collaborates with stakeholders to provide a yearly conference: Bridging the Divide.

SPRC is the nation’s only federally supported resource center devoted to advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. They provide technical assistance, training, and materials to increase the knowledge and expertise of suicide prevention practitioners and other professionals serving people at risk for suicide. SPRC also promotes collaboration among a variety of organizations that play a role in developing the field of suicide prevention.

Workshops, toolkits, and trainings offered from SPRC include:

NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community for hope for all of those in need.

Local Efforts in Colorado
The Douglas Arapahoe Suicide Prevention Alliance is a coalition of organizations representing mental health providers, law enforcement agencies, schools, youth initiatives, fire rescue departments, hospitals, and faith communities. DASPA’s mission is to implement comprehensive, community wide initiatives for preventing suicide in Douglas and Arapahoe Counties, Colorado.



Call: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and you'll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center, anytime 24/7. This is a National Organization who will connect you locally based on your area code. If you reside in Colorado with an out of state area code, please call the Colorado Crisis Services to be connected locally.

Provides young people a way to report any threatening behaviors or activities endangering themselves or someone they know, in a way that keeps them safe and anonymous. 

Do you have local prevention efforts that you'd like to update us on? Go to the Prevention Tracking page to fill out a quick form.