Suicide in Colorado

Colorado

Suicide is a troubling public health issue that leaves a lasting impact on families and communities. Between 2000 and 2022, the suicide rate in the United States increased by 36%. In 2024, 14.3 million adults seriously thought about suicide, 4.6 million made a plan and 2.2 million attempted suicide. More than half of all suicides involved firearms in 2023, and there were almost twice as many suicide deaths as homicide deaths.

When someone dies by suicide, as with any cause of death, the loss is felt by many people. The ripples of loss spread from close family and friends to community members, acquaintances and even people the deceased did not know. All of those exposed to the loss may experience different levels of grief and trauma. 

Mental health and substance use disorders are the most significant risk factors for suicidal behaviors. In addition, environmental factors such as stressful life events and access to lethal means, such as firearms or drugs, may increase the risk of suicide. Previous suicide attempts and a family history of suicide are also notable risk factors. 

Between 2015 and 2020, the economic burden of suicide in the U.S. averaged $484 billion annually.

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the rate of suicide is higher among: 

• Males compared with females.
• American Indian/Alaska Native populations, which have a rate 3.5 times higher than Asian populations.
• Adults age 85 and older compared with adults of other age groups. Those ages 15-24 had the lowest rate.

Additional research has found that the rate of suicide is also higher among:

• Veterans.
• Those living in rural areas.
• LGBTQ adults and youth.
• Those living in counties with lower levels of health insurance coverage, broadband internet access and household income.
• Those who work in construction and extraction, as well as farming, fishing and forestry.

Strategies to reduce suicide include:

• Universal screening at emergency rooms to identify patients at higher risk of suicide.
• Safety planning at emergency rooms to assist patients with suicidal behaviors by providing them with a prioritized list of evidence-based coping strategies and sources of support.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy to identify and manage suicidal ideation and attempts. 
• Reducing access to lethal means such as firearms, lethal doses of medications and alcohol. Studies over the past two decades show a strong association between household firearm ownership and increased suicide rates. At the community level, the Gun Shop Project provides educational materials on firearm suicide prevention and builds partnerships between public health experts and firearms retailers, instructors and customers. 

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center has detailed information on implementing effective suicide prevention in schools, universities, emergency departments, American Indian/Alaska Native communities and other organizations that serve populations with high suicide risk. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support for people in distress 24/7 anywhere in the United States. Their website offers additional forms of crisis support, and the previous National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number (1-800-273-TALK(8255)) is still active and usable.

Reducing the suicide rate is a leading health indicator for Healthy People 2030.

Allchin, Adelyn, Vicka Chaplin, and Joshua Horwitz. “Limiting Access to Lethal Means: Applying the Social Ecological Model for Firearm Suicide Prevention.” Injury Prevention 25, no. Suppl 1 (September 1, 2019): i44–48. https://doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2018-042809.

Cammack, Alison L., Mark R. Stevens, Rebecca B. Naumann, Jing Wang, Wojciech Kaczkowski, Jorge Valderrama, Deborah M. Stone, and Robin Lee. “Vital Signs: Suicide Rates and Selected County-Level Factors — United States, 2022.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 73, no. 37 (September 19, 2024): 810–18. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7337e1.

Conner, Kenneth R., Jeffrey A. Bridge, Dustin J. Davidson, Carly Pilcher, and David A. Brent. “Metaanalysis of Mood and Substance Use Disorders in Proximal Risk for Suicide Deaths.” Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior 49, no. 1 (2019): 278–92. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12422.

Dunlap, Laura J., Stephen Orme, Gary A. Zarkin, Sarah A. Arias, Ivan W. Miller, Carlos A. Camargo, Ashley F. Sullivan, et al. “Screening and Intervention for Suicide Prevention: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the ED-SAFE Interventions.” Psychiatric Services 70, no. 12 (August 27, 2019): 1082–87. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201800445.

National LGBT Health Education Center. Suicide Risk and Prevention for LGBTQ People. Boston, MA: The Fenway Institute, September 2018. https://www.lgbtqiahealtheducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Suicide-Risk-and-Prevention-for-LGBTQ-Patients-Brief.pdf.

Opoliner, April, Deborah Azrael, Catherine Barber, Garrett Fitzmaurice, and Matthew Miller. “Explaining Geographic Patterns of Suicide in the US: The Role of Firearms and Antidepressants.” Injury Epidemiology 1, no. 1 (March 20, 2014): 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/2197-1714-1-6.

Peterson, Cora, Tadesse Haileyesus, and Deborah M. Stone. “Economic Cost of U.S. Suicide and Nonfatal Self-Harm.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 67, no. 1 (July 2024): 129–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2024.03.002.

Stanley, Barbara, Gregory K. Brown, Lisa A. Brenner, Hanga C. Galfalvy, Glenn W. Currier, Kerry L. Knox, Sadia R. Chaudhury, Ashley L. Bush, and Kelly L. Green. “Comparison of the Safety Planning Intervention With Follow-up vs Usual Care of Suicidal Patients Treated in the Emergency Department.” JAMA Psychiatry 75, no. 9 (September 1, 2018): 894–900. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.1776.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2024 Companion Infographic Report: Results from the 2021 to 2024 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2025. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt56462/2024-nsduh-companion-report.pdf.

Sussell, Aaron, Cora Peterson, Jia Li, Arialdi Miniño, Kenneth A. Scott, and Deborah M. Stone. “Suicide Rates by Industry and Occupation — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2021.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 72, no. 50 (December 15, 2023): 1346–50. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7250a2.

Wu, Hua, Liu Lu, Yan Qian, Xiao-Hong Jin, Hai-Rong Yu, Lin Du, Xue-Lei Fu, Bin Zhu, and Hong-Lin Chen. “The Significance of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Suicide: An Umbrella Review.” Journal of Affective Disorders 317 (November 2022): 142–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.08.067.