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Report on Colorado’s Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Initiative

Funding Overview

1. FY20: $901,139
2. FY21: $901,139
3. FY22: $901,139
4. FY23: $901,139

Focus Populations and Target Areas

The initiative targets six counties in Colorado with high suicide counts and/or rates: Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, and Jefferson. Priority populations within these counties include:

• Youth and young adults (0–24 years)
• Middle-aged men (25–64 years)
• Older adults (65+ years)
• Veterans and military-involved families
• BIPOC communities
• People with disabilities
• Workers in high-risk industries (construction, agriculture and ranching, oil and gas, emergency responders)
• Faith communities

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The initiative directly addresses mental health and suicide prevention, promoting well-being across diverse populations.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Focus on BIPOC communities, people with disabilities, and marginalized groups supports equity in health outcomes.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Community engagement and connectedness foster resilient and inclusive communities.
• SDG 1: No Poverty – Economic stability initiatives such as food security, affordable housing, and transportation contribute to poverty reduction.

Key Suicide Prevention Activities Funded by CSP

• Partnering with counties and local organizations to conduct community events that foster and promote connectedness, enhancing social support networks.
• Strengthening postvention efforts by coordinating resources and collaboration across counties. Strategies include developing written policies for postvention response and training on responsible media messaging to support survivors of suicide loss and attempts.
• Providing gatekeeper training to organizations serving older adults to improve suicide prevention opportunities within this vulnerable group.
• Promoting connectedness by organizing events that link older adults with social and emotional resources.
• Delivering specialized gatekeeper trainings (COMET) tailored to rural and agricultural communities, addressing their unique characteristics.
• Collaborating with local leaders, government agencies, and community groups to conduct community action planning focused on economic stability initiatives such as food security, affordable housing, and transportation.
• Promoting safe storage of lethal means among veterans, including firearm safe storage initiatives targeting rural males.

Additional Resources

For further information and success stories related to Colorado’s Comprehensive Suicide Prevention efforts, please visit the Colorado-National Collaborative and CDC CSP Success Stories.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article focuses on suicide prevention, mental health support, and postvention activities, which directly relate to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The focus on priority populations such as BIPOC communities, people with disabilities, veterans, and those in high-risk industries addresses reducing inequalities in health outcomes and access to services.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Community events fostering connectedness and social support contribute to building inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable communities.
4. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • Supporting economic stability initiatives such as food security, affordable housing, and transportation links to poverty reduction efforts.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, particularly for vulnerable populations.
4. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • Target 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Suicide Rates and Counts
   • Measurement of suicide counts and rates in the six counties of Colorado is implied as a key indicator to assess the effectiveness of prevention activities.
2. Participation in Gatekeeper Training
   • Number of individuals trained in gatekeeper programs such as COMET to identify and intervene in suicide risk situations.
3. Community Connectedness Events
   • Frequency and reach of community events promoting social and emotional connectedness, especially among older adults and vulnerable populations.
4. Postvention Implementation
   • Existence and use of written postvention policies and training on responsible media messaging to support survivors of suicide loss.
5. Economic Stability Initiatives
   • Indicators related to food security, affordable housing, and transportation access as part of community action planning.
6. Safe Storage of Lethal Means
   • Distribution and use of firearm safe storage resources among veterans and rural males.

4. SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

Source: cdc.gov