Annual suicide report released, prevention remains priority 08-27-2025
Mesa County Public Health (MCPH), in collaboration with the Mesa County Coroner’s Office and the Mesa County Suicide Prevention Coalition, released the annual Suicide Report. This report offers an in-depth overview of the prevalence of suicide in Mesa County, while also highlighting prevention initiatives and accessible resources for residents.
“This report gives us a clearer picture of the impact of suicide in our community,” said Jennifer Daniels, Behavioral Health Division Director at MCPH and lead for the Mesa County Suicide Prevention Coalition. “It also highlights the prevention work happening across Mesa County and encourages community members to see how they can play a part in suicide prevention.”
For nearly a decade, Mesa County has worked to address the disproportionately high burden of suicide in the community.
“Improving something starts with measuring it,” said Daniels. “By reporting on this data every year, we give our community the tools it needs to strengthen prevention efforts and track progress.”
The report builds upon previous efforts to examine the disparities highlighted in the data, including the impact of suicide on community members who are veterans, part of the LGBTQIA+ community, or belong to racial and ethnic minority groups.
Key takeaways from report
On average, 50 Mesa County residents die by suicide each year—a rate of 31.0 per 100,000 people. This is significantly higher than the state rate of 21.1 and the national rate of 13.9. Suicide is the seventh leading cause of death in Mesa County and the fourth leading cause of death among residents under 65. Other key takeaways from the new report include:
- Suicide deaths continue to be highest among working-age adults, a long-standing trend.
- In Mesa County, as in Colorado and the US, men account for the majority of suicide deaths. In 2024, the suicide fatality rate among men was over 3 times higher than among women.
- From 2022 to 2024, over half of all suicide deaths in the county involved a firearm. The lethality of firearms makes intervention more difficult, particularly compared to other methods such as overdose or poisoning.
Prevention in action
Suicide prevention is not limited to mental health professionals. Because suicide often results from multiple stressors that build over time, reducing those pressures can help lower the risk. Prevention efforts in Mesa County include:
- Resource navigation through Grand Valley Connects.
- Find the mental health care that fits your needs through Find the Right Fit.
- Community resources in the Adulting guide from 211.
- Support for survivors after suicide loss through Heartbeat GJ.
- Resource identification for veterans Find the right Veteran Resources Quickly and Easily | Don't Wait. Reach out.
- Lethal means safety through VA Keep It Secure program.
Resources for those in crisis
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, help is available:
- Call or text 988 for the Colorado Mental Health Line.
- Text CO to 741741 to connect with the Crisis Text Line and be connected with a live, trained counselor.
Report availability
The Suicide Report is available on the Mesa County Public Health website and is intended for everyone in the community—not just professionals.
“We hope residents will take time to explore the report,” Daniels said. “It not only shows us the trajectory of suicide prevention and its impact, but it also gives us an opportunity to talk about suicide when we’re not currently experiencing a loss.”
