Amelia Elkins, LCSW, CAS
While it is completely normal to have thoughts of hopelessness from time to time, suicidal thoughts should be taken seriously and deserve attention. Today, suicide is still more prevalent among males, however, females are more likely to attempt suicide. For folks under the age of 24 years old, suicide is the third leading cause of death, and second leading cause for the specific age group of 10-14 years old. American Indian and Alaska Native individuals are at the greatest risk for suicide, with non-Hispanic white folks coming in as the second most at risk group.
There are so many pressures for today’s younger generations including appearance, grades, friendships, social media, and constant screen time. Constant comparison and accessibility leads to extra stress for teenagers, which could lead to suicidal ideation if one is already not feeling mentally stable. If you or someone you know seems to be struggling, connect with them and don’t ignore the signs. Here is a list of resources for support:
Colorado:
- Colorado Crisis Services is a 24/7 hotline for support. They also offer walk in centers around Denver to be seen day of: https://coloradocrisisservices.org.
- Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention in Colorado Springs offers individual therapy, group therapy and other resources: https://www.pikespeaksuicideprevention.org.
- Denver Indian Family Resource Center offers support for American Indian and Alaska Native Families: https://difrc.org.
- The Asian Pacific Development Center offers a wide range of mental health services for Asian American Pacific Islanders: https://www.apdc.org/about-us.
- El Centro de las Familias is a multicultural clinic providing mental health services in both Spanish and English: https://www.wellpower.org/el-centro-de-las-familias-english/.
National:
- 988 Suicide Line offers resources and a hotline: https://988lifeline.org
- Crisis Text Line offers a 24/7 text hotline: https://www.crisistextline.org
- The Trevor Project offers a variety of resources for LGBTQ folks: https://www.thetrevorproject.org
Starting therapy and having regular support may be beneficial in reducing suicidal ideation. Reach out today to get support.