ߣÏÈÉú

Members of , the Eagle County nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention, brought some encouraging news Tuesday to the Eagle County Board of Commissioners.

Executive Director Erin Ivie and SpeakUp ReachOut staff members presented the organization’s annual update to the board. Things are relatively stable when it comes to Eagle County adults taking their own lives, with the numbers staying relatively constant over the past few years.

The better news, Ivie said, is that the most recent Healthy Kids Colorado survey of high school and middle school youth, administered in 2023, shows a “pretty significant drop” in the percentage of survey respondents reporting depression, considering suicide. or making a suicide plan.

“That’s really hopeful,” Ivie said of the every-other-year survey. “It’s good to see we’re seeing some resilience and hopeful change.”

Commissioner Matt Scherr asked if those survey results are the result of coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Support Local Journalism

Donate

Ivie replied that’s a “big piece,” but noted that statewide, Colorado is seeing a decline in the number of youth suicides since the pandemic.

“There’s something we’re doing in Colorado that’s working,” Ivie said, noting that the state has a “prevention framework” that includes public health, behavioral health, law enforcement, and other agencies working together.

SpeakUp ReachOut’s initiatives include hosting events, creating peer support groups, suicide prevention training, school programming, professional development, and community response and loss support.

Ivie noted that the group sponsored a recent dual language comedy event at Riverwalk in Edwards that was attended by about 150 people, including about 50 youths.

“It seems people really got to enjoy a little bit of laughing as medicine,” Ivie said.

The event and other events and training are all free.

There’s also a big focus on “lethal means” safety, particularly firearms. Ivie said SpeakUp ReachOut has done a lot of educating through radio, newspaper. and in-person events on the safe storage of firearms.

Firearm owners are encouraged to safely store their weapons. Putting time and distance between a gun and a possibly suicidal person is crucial.

There’s also anecdotal evidence that a safety and maintenance barrier on the Green Bridge at Red Cliff has saved lives, Ivie said.

SpeakUp ReachOut and its partners work to get out information through , the crisis lifeline and on SpeakUp ReachOut’s social media channels.

Avon Police Chief Greg Daly, who has been part of SpeakUp ReachOut since its founding, thanked the “amazing team” that’s working to “bring hope to the people in our community.” He also thanked everyone who’s donated, from local governments and foundations to those who write $50 checks. All are “literally saving lives,” Daly said.