Suicide is a critical public health concern that adversely affects a diverse population of Americans. The number of suicides has increased over the past decade for the United States and also in Colorado. In 2015, Colorado had the ninth highest suicide rate (19.5 deaths per 100,000 population) among all states. In 2015, suicide was the seventh leading cause of death in Colorado. From 2011 to 2015, the suicide deaths in Colorado outnumbered deaths by motor vehicle collision, unintentional poisoning, falls or homicide. . Data from 2010 estimate that each suicide death in Colorado costs $3,572 on average in direct costs (health care, autopsy and law enforcement investigation expense) and $1,310,568 in indirect costs (work loss cost).
