Suicide

The 988 Colorado Mental Health Line is available for free, immediate, and human support 24/7. If you or someone you know is struggling with an emotional, mental health, or substance use concern, call or text 988, or live chat with a counselor at 988colorado.com.

CDPHE's Office of Suicide Prevention coordinates and aligns comprehensive suicide prevention strategies across the state. To learn more about suicide data, OSP programs, and open funding opportunities, visit coosp.org.

Overview

Suicide is a preventable tragedy. Suicide is defined as a death caused by self-inflicted injury with the intent to die. Most people who think about suicide do not act on it or die by suicide. A nonfatal suicide attempt occurs when someone tries to end their life but survives, which offers a chance for support, healing, and recovery.

In 2023, about 55% of U.S. suicide deaths involved firearms. Every community is affected by firearm-related suicide, but some groups are impacted more than others, including males, adults aged 75 or older, American Indian or Alaska Native populations, non-Hispanic white populations, and U.S. Veterans and service members.

Firearms are the most lethal method of suicide, meaning a person is much more likely to die from a suicide attempt with a firearm than from other methods. Studies show that nearly half of suicide attempts happen within 10 minutes of deciding to act. However, if a person in crisis cannot access their decided-on method, they usually do not look for another option. This means that securely storing firearms and limiting access during high-risk times can save lives by allowing time for intervention, support, and hope.

Having a firearm in the home increases the risk of suicide for the firearm owner, their partner, children, and anyone who stays there. This is not because people in these homes are more likely to have suicidal thoughts, but because a firearm is a highly lethal option if used in a suicide attempt. This highlights the importance of secure firearm storage to protect loved ones and give time for support and recovery.

In Colorado

• In 2023, 56% of all suicide deaths in Colorado involved firearms.
• Like national trends, most suicides involving firearms in Colorado (64%) were among non-Hispanic white men. In 2023, 37% of firearm-related suicide deaths were among people aged 25–44, and 13% were among youth and young adults under 25. While Veterans make up 7% of Colorado’s population, they accounted for 21% of firearm-related suicide deaths in 2023.
• In 2023, around 30% of Colorado adults reported they or someone close to them had been affected by suicide. Each of these deaths deeply affects families, friends, and communities.
• Many Coloradans are concerned about suicide involving firearms. In 2023, about 40% of adults were worried about adult suicides, and 57% were concerned about youth suicides involving firearms. 
• Only 26% of adults knew that suicide is the most common cause of death involving firearms in the state. This shows an opportunity for education and increased involvement in suicide prevention efforts.
   

Prevention and intervention

Suicide involving firearms can be prevented by addressing the needs of individuals and the community circumstances that lead to it. For more information on these strategies, refer to the secure firearm storage, out-of-home firearm storage, lethal means safety counseling, and firearm business partnerships webpages.