Adolescent suicide in Colorado, 2008-2012.

Suicide is a public health issue of significant concern nationally and in
the state of Colorado. Colorado’s suicide rate consistently ranks amongst
the highest in the nation (11th in 2011, 17.5 per 100,000).1
The adolescent
population is a particularly vulnerable group which is in many ways less
understood than adults, and whose suicides rank high in terms of years of
life lost. Additionally, suicides in this population could be more easily preventable
through parental interaction and limiting access to lethal means.
In Colorado there were 269 adolescent suicide deaths between 2008 and
2012. The Colorado age-specific suicide rate for adolescents (ages 10 to
19) is 7.9 per 100,000 which is considerably higher than the national average
at 4.6 per 100,000.2
During this period suicide was the second leading
cause of death in adolescents behind unintentional injuries in Colorado.3
The tragedy of adolescent suicides, including the toll taken on families,
peers, and society, make them a serious public health problem.

Contact us for a copy of this article, or view online at http://www.chd.dphe.state.co.us/Resources/briefs/AdolescentSuicide94version3.pdf