Statement: Arapahoe Student Suicide

October 25, 2019

Media contact: Flora Welsh, 502.727.4329

Mental Health Colorado issued the following statement today: 

These are heartbreaking times for our community. Colorado lost a student to suicide this past week. Mental Health Colorado shares in our community’s collective sorrow, worry, and insistence on meaningful progress in understanding and prevention.

What we can do

Adults can support students impacted by these events. It’s important to provide reassurance, answer questions honestly, encourage kids to express their emotions, and be a little less demanding about expectations. Be ok with saying “I don’t know.” Adults and peers can also support those who may be at risk. It’s important to recognize the signs of distress and know how to intervene in a timely and life-saving way.

Going forward

We must continue purposeful, outcomes-focused conversations about how to best meet our state’s mental health needs. With urgency and determination, we must develop and implement support systems to prevent suicide. Prevention, early intervention, and access to treatment are necessary to building and maintaining mentally healthy communities.

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If, during these particularly challenging times, you feel in need of immediate help, call Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844-493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255. You can also visit Mental Health Colorado’s help page for more resources.

About Mental Health Colorado:

Mental Health Colorado is the state’s leading advocate in promoting mental health, ending stigma, and ensuring equitable access to mental health and substance use services. Mental Health Colorado is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and an affiliate of Mental Health America.