Local experts talk mental health following Colorado Springs bus incident

The woman who shut down I-25 after threatening to kill herself and law enforcement officers will not be facing charges.

A spokesperson with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office says she was not detained last night because she was not armed with a gun, despite saying she had one.

Witnesses at the scene say the woman was suffering from some type of mental episode.

Mental health professionals in Colorado Springs note that keeping tabs on mental health is crucial.

“Mental health is the key to everything that we do,” Christine Andersen with Peak View Behavioral Health explained. ” And no matter who you are, or what walk of life you have, mental illness strikes everybody. It does not discriminate against age or gender or race. And it doesn’t matter what station in life you are in; every person can experience mental health or mental illness.”

The latest numbers of those suffering from mental illness in Colorado are at a high.

“For the state of Colorado there were around 1,400 suicides in 2014 for our state, which is actually the highest rate of suicide that we have ever had ,” said Ty Meredith, with Peak View Behavioral Health Business Development.

That’s why experts stress that we are on alert to prevent harmful situations.

“(Doing things like) watching out for each other and not being afraid to say something. Asking, ‘Are you okay? Are you thinking about suicide?’ Helping support those around us to help us all stay as mentally healthy as possible,” said Meredith.

For those who are struggling, it is crucial to get help.

Facilities like Peak View offer free mental health assessments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are struggling, you are encouraged to visit the location.