Two hundred and twenty-one Mesa County residents have completed suicide since 2011. As a community , we can reduce that number through outreach , education and support.
Mesa County Health Department , along with the Western Colorado Suicide Prevention Foundation , the Grand Junction VA Medical Center and Colorado Mesa University , are prompting residents to #BeThe1To make a difference to prevent suicide locally.
People who are connected with other individuals are less lonely and feel less socially isolated , making them more likely to reach out if having suicidal thoughts. Reaching out to friends , family members and coworkers can mean the difference between life and death.
Destigmatizing the topic and removing judgement is also a sizable piece of the puzzle. It removes barriers and transforms suicide from being an individual issue to a community one.
How will you #BeThe1To? Come see us at the Grand Junction Farmers Market Sept. 1 from 5:30 – 8 p.m. and tell us. Learn the warning signs. Learn the risk factors. Be the one to start the conversation.
Resources are available to Mesa County residents who are ready to #BeThe1To.
Suicide is everyone’s business – make it yours.
For more insight on this community problem , review the Mesa County Health Department 2015 Suicide Report.
