Suicide rate in one Colorado county six times higher than the national average
A Colorado sheriff is sounding the alarm about the unusually high rate of suicide in his county.
Sheriff Bill Masters says three people have shot themselves to death in San Miguel County in just the past two weeks.
“It’s alarming – our rate (San Miguel County) of suicide by firearm in the past 12 months is now six times higher than the national average,” Masters said.
San Miguel County is situated on the Utah border between Grand Junction and Durango in southwestern Colorado. The population of San Miguel County was 7,840 as of July 2014, according to the US Census Bureau.
The sheriff’s office says that all of the victims in this month’s suicides were white men over the age of 55. Aside from that, they had little in common. Masters is asking community members to watch for signs of depression in their loved ones, and if necessary, take action. “Keep firearms locked, and in some situations, you may need to remove them from immediate access by anyone having difficulties with depression or substance abuse,” Masters said.
People who live in Western Colorado and are struggling with depression are urged to reach out for help by calling the Center for Mental Health in Montrose. The crisis line is available 24/7 at 970-252-6220.
A statewide crisis hotline is also available by calling 1-844-493-8255. In addition to the telephone number, Colorado Crisis Services has walk-in centers at 115 S. Parkside Drive in Colorado Springs and 1302 Chinook Lane in Pueblo.
