GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. Since 2002, the suicide rate on the
Western Slope began to rise, and it's still increasing to one of the
highest rates around the nation.
In Mesa County there are more than 1,000 deaths related to suicide in 2012.
"Suicide
competing or suicide leading districts in the world," said Medical
Doctor and Colorado Mesa University Professor Russell Copelan.
Dr. Copeland says Mesa County has a rate of 35 per 100,000 and the state average in Colorado is 19.7 per 100,000.
One contributing factor to suicide is mental health issues.
"Colorado
is one of the least funded per capita for mental health issues," said
Regional Recruitment Director for Colorado Christian University.
Booth feels mental health plays a huge role in the increase in suicide.
"But this is really is an epidemic in our area and we don't fund it,” said Booth.
The regional director of Mind Springs Health says more people are coming for help but it's not enough.
"With
32 beds here in Mesa County serving the entire western slope it's about
eight beds per one hundred thousand per people,” said Mind Springs
Health Regional Director Michelle Hoy.
According to the Mesa County Health Department they have seen an increase in suicide hot-line calls.
"In
2009 the hot-line received 333 calls and so far in 2013 the hot-line
received 750 calls. So this isn't a problem that is going away," said
Veronica Daehn Harvey with the Mesa County Health Department.
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