Annual suicide report released, prevention remains priority

Mesa County Public Health (MCPH), in collaboration with the Mesa County Coroner’s Office and the Mesa County Suicide Prevention Coalition, released the 2025 Annual Suicide Report. This report details Mesa County’s suicide trends while pointing community members toward active prevention work and support resources. 

“This report doesn't just show the impact of suicide in Mesa County, it shines a light on the prevention work already underway,” said Jennifer Daniels, Behavioral Health Division Director at MCPH and lead for the Mesa County Suicide Prevention Coalition. “It's an open invitation for our entire community to step up and join these life-saving efforts.”

Key takeaways from the report

• The suicide fatality rate among men was over three times higher than among women.
• Youth and young adults represent more than a third of all suicide-related visits to emergency departments.
• Following the loss of critical behavioral health resources, including the closure of West Springs Hospital, the community experienced an increase in suicide-related emergency department visits.
• Substance involvement at the time of death has significantly decreased over the last two years.
• Local youth reported a stronger sense of belonging and a corresponding decrease in suicide despair.

Explore the entire suicide report on MCPH’s website.

Prevention in action

Suicide prevention is not limited to mental health experts. Equipping community members with the knowledge and confidence to take action is a vital part of suicide prevention. Prevention efforts in Mesa County in 2025 included:

• Just over 1.2k Mesa County residents were referred to Grand Valley Connects for support accessing resources, including more than 100 who were connected with mental health resources.
• Approximately 2.7k gun locks were distributed in Mesa County and nearly 1.3k pounds of medication were safely disposed of through partnerships involving the Suicide Prevention Coalition, VA Western Colorado, and Mesa County Opioid Response Group.
• The Mesa County Coroner’s Family Support Coordinator sent 43 care packages to residents impacted by suicide loss.

"I hope community members will take a moment to look through the report," Daniels said. "It highlights how far our prevention efforts have come and creates a safe space for us to talk openly about suicide during moments of calm, rather than only in times of grief." 

Resources for those in crisis

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, help is available. Call or text 988 for the Colorado Mental Health Line.