Eric Abbott

Colorado is no stranger to the weight of the mental health crisis. While our state’s overall youth suicide rate declined in 2024 to its lowest level since 2007, it remains a major public health concern with rates higher than the national average.

Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that suicide claimed 49,316 lives in 2023 — about one death every 11 minutes. Additionally, one in six Americans is living with a substance use disorder.

In Colorado, these national statistics feel deeply personal. Our communities — from the Springs to Durango — know the heartbreak of losing neighbors, colleagues, and loved ones to suicide or addiction. Behind these numbers are countless stories.

Addiction can stem from many causes — misuse of prescription opioids, untreated trauma, or mental health challenges that drive people to self-medicate. While the path into addiction varies, recovery is always possible with the right support. Suicide, too, is preventable when people have timely access to care, resources, and community support.

Too often, shame keeps people from asking for help. Families may hesitate to talk about mental health struggles. Friends may be unsure of what to do if someone is in crisis. Research has found that knowing or meeting people who share their stories of mental health challenges and recovery can help reduce stigma.

Talking to your primary care provider can be the first line of action in discussing possible treatments or approaches to achieving mental well-being. And people in need may not know where to turn — especially when vital lifelines like crisis hotlines face staffing shortages — which Colorado is currently facing.

That’s why prevention has to be both personal and systemic. On the personal level, everyone should know the warning signs: changes in sleep or mood, withdrawing from relationships, talking about hopelessness, or increased substance use.

On the systemic level, Colorado Springs must commit to building sustainable, accessible mental health infrastructure; one way forward is integration. Nearly two years ago, we launched behavioral health services at all our primary care clinics to provide our patients with timely access to a broad spectrum of behavioral health services. By connecting the patient with behavioral health care in the primary care setting, we can help take away any stigma related to seeking mental health care. Our behavioral health teams may include social workers, therapists, and mental health providers – all working with the patient’s primary care provider to provide integrated care.

Every death by suicide is one too many. Every life altered by untreated addiction is a call for action. We must remember solutions exist, but only if we prioritize them. This Suicide Prevention Month, in September, let’s commit as neighbors, providers and policymakers to breaking the stigma, supporting those in crisis, and strengthening the systems that save lives. Because in Colorado, every life matters — and no one should face their darkest moment alone.

To reach a trained crisis counselor, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. You may also chat at 988.lifeline.org.

Dr. Eric Abbott is a member of Optum’s Colorado Springs medical team and a veteran who served 25 years in the U.S. Air Force.