U.S. suicides hit a record high in 2022. Here's what to know about the issue in Pueblo
Provisional suicide statistics show that 49,449 Americans died by suicide in 2022, according to a November 2023 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The number is a 3% increase from the previous year and is the highest annual total ever recorded in the U.S. The age-adjusted rate of about 14.3 suicides per 100,000 people is the highest seen since 1941 and a 1% increase from 2021, according to the CDC report.
Pueblo County reported 50 suicides in 2022, which is a slight drop from the 53 suicides reported in 2021, according to Moremi Hamblin, data analyst for the Pueblo County Department of Health and Environment.
However, Pueblo County's age-adjusted suicide rate recorded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in 2022 was 28.78 per 100,000 people — more than double the national rate recorded by the CDC.
Of the 50 suicides recorded in Pueblo County last year, 38 were completed by men and 28 involved the use of a firearm. Twelve were completed by those between the ages of 55 and 64, according to CDPHE.
Prevention coalition has provided local resources since 2018
Pueblo County has historically seen high suicide rates relative to the national average, but a local prevention coalition is hoping to lower the rates through collaborative community outreach.
In October 2018, the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Pueblo County was formed through a partnership with and funding from the Colorado National Collaborative for Suicide Prevention.
The local coalition aims to conduct outreach aligning with six "pillars": increasing responsive care access, improving connectedness, decreasing lethal means access, increasing support for postventions — meaning interventions that take place after a suicide to support the bereaved — increasing awareness and education, and improving economic stability.
On Nov. 17 of this year, the coalition hosted an International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day event at Blo Back Gallery, 131 Spring St. Attendees of the free event were invited to share how suicide has impacted them with community members who have had similar experiences.
"Through that event, we saw a lot of people... We're getting more people involved in those conversations," said Melissa Ayala, a grant supervisor and supporter for the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Pueblo County.
The coalition has already hosted suicide prevention workshops at Central and South high schools this year. Similar workshops are scheduled on Feb. 7 at Centennial High School from 6 to 7 p.m., and on March 6 at East High School from 5 to 6 p.m.
Like previous workshops, attendees of the upcoming workshops will be trained in the emergency response method of QPR or "Question. Persuade. Refer." Individuals do not have to be students or staff of the respective high schools to attend.
"The goal, especially with QPR, is to provide that education to as many people as possible... To relay that message that you don't have to be a mental health professional, you don't have to be a doctor, you don't have to be a psychiatrist to intervene within a suicide crisis," Ayala said.
Other events being planned by the coalition include a Safe Storage and Lethal Means training in February, where veterans will be able to build and take home a safe storage shelf for their firearms.
More information about the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Pueblo County may be found on the coalition's website, pueblosuicideprevention.org.
New task force aims to help grieving family members and assemble resources
One of the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Pueblo County's partners — the Mental Wellness Task Force of Southern Colorado — assists the coalition in providing resources for family members and friends impacted by a loved one's suicide.
The partnership between the two organizations has developed an eight-week support group, "Navigating the Grief Journey after Suicide Loss." Organizations also assemble tote bags with suicide grief and loss books for families.
On Sept. 30, the two organizations partnered to host the first Suicide Memory Walk — a 2.5-mile walk around Lake Minnequa Veterans Memorial Park remembering loved ones lost to suicide.
The Mental Wellness Task Force of Southern Colorado is in its first year of operation. The task force is currently working to compile information from Southern Colorado mental health providers and behavioral health organizations to create a resource guide.
The task force hopes to have the resource guide available to community members by the end of February 2024, according to Dena Rodriguez-Leach, chair of the Mental Wellness Task Force of Southern Colorado.
"We're asking mental health providers to complete a survey to tell us things like, 'What population do you serve? Do you take insurance? Is there a waiting list? Do you have any therapists that focus on or accept clients for suicide loss survivors?" Rodriguez-Leach said.
More information about the Mental Wellness Task Force of Southern Colorado can be found by contacting Rodriguez-Leach at 720-262-3066 or drodgriguez@sparkthechangecolorado.org.
Other available resources
Those experiencing a mental health crisis can dial 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — a toll-free hotline. Other resources include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Colorado Crisis Services provides immediate, confidential support for individuals experiencing anxiety, bullying, concern for loved ones, COVID-19 related stress, depression, family crisis, financial pressures, issues of gender identity, loneliness, relationship challenges, substance abuse, stress suicidal thoughts, and trauma, according to its website.
Colorado Crisis Services may be reached by calling 1-844-493-8255 or by texting "TALK" to 38255.
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Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: What to know about suicide in Pueblo and where to find resources
