NEW SUICIDE PREVENTION EFFORTS UNDERWAY
First Lady Ritter Chairs Statewide Planning Effort
The Colorado Trust awarded $75,000 dollars to Mental Health America of Colorado (MHAC) to oversee the Colorado Suicide Prevention & Intervention Plan, a coordinated approach to suicide prevention, education and awareness across the state. The program will incorporate the participation of many partners dedicated to preventing suicide and who aim to reduce Colorado’s suicide rate, which is 7th highest in the nation. Colorado First Lady Jeannie Ritter has been named Honorary Chairperson of the planning committee. She will work with MHAC, The Trust and other partners to gather statewide input and help implement successful suicide prevention strategies.
“I’m very proud to be a part of the combined efforts of The Colorado Trust and MHAC to demonstrate that depression is treatable, and that there are avenues for intervention,” said Mrs. Ritter. “We are determined to ensure that people know how to ask for help for themselves or someone they care about.”
 Challenge Grants Awarded
Additionally, The Trust has awarded challenge grants to 10 communities to continue their suicide prevention work. Each of the grantees will receive up to $20,000 a year for three years from The Trust.
Over the last four years, the grantees have accomplished a range of successes toward suicide prevention, including gatekeeper trainings conducted by Project Hope in southeastern Colorado, counseling and therapy for minority youth in Jefferson County, direct outreach to local Hispanic communities through Spanish-language brochures and other resources, and cross-cultural training of Hispanic community leaders.
For additional information about the Preventing Suicide in Colorado Initiative, contact Ed Lucero, Senior Program Officer, 303-837-1200 or
ed@coloradotrust.org.
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