Castle Rock hosts suicide prevention rally
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CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — Under a cloudy evening sky, Festival Park buzzed as the Castle Rock Police Department, joined by dozens of mental health workers and community members, hosted its sixth annual Rally of Hope.
“The first year started… one of our staff member’s mother had died by committing suicide. He and I thought we should do something to get the community together with the local resources to know what is out here before losing hope,” CRPD officer Tom O’Donnell said.
Investments in mental health are not keeping pace with growing needs, making community gatherings an important part of local support and awareness efforts. In 2024, the number of suicide deaths in Colorado rose to 1,306. While still below the 2021 peak of 1,370 deaths, the toll has been rising again since 2022, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. This places Colorado among the states with the highest suicide rates in the nation, according to the CDC.
A Rally of Hope offers more than just statistics. For one attendee, Linda Curtis, it provided a chance to arm herself with a powerful tool — learning how to recognize the signs of someone struggling with suicidal thoughts.
“I was number 11 of 12 kids. I had a brother… Victor was his name. He committed suicide at 36. It was premeditated,” Curtis said. “He sold all his stuff. He had stuff for his son and daughter. He told his friends, if anything happens to me, make sure my kids get these things. They didn’t understand. They just thought he was moving.”
Victor died in 1979, Curtis recalled. Victor had checked into a motel room in Reno, Nevada on New Years Eve and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
A couple decades later, Curtis lost her nephew when he was 34 years old. He had been in recovery from his drug addiction when he died from suicide.
In 2015, she lost her grandson to suicide at 19 years old. He had also been struggling with addiction.
“I know how real this is. And for years, I would feel the guilt of… ‘how come we didn’t recognize it,’” she said. “Now, I want to know what to look for. I want to know where I can refer them to and show them there is help out there. I’ve got grandkids. I want to be aware of what they are going through.”
Curtis’s guilt, which she says has now turned into acceptance as she celebrates their lives daily, reflects the complexity of suicide prevention. According to Esther Okanlawoan, a psychiatric nurse practitioner with New Path Psychiatry who also attended the event, there is no single warning sign to watch for. It’s very multifaceted.
However, Okanlawoan said, individuals at risk of suicide may begin to withdraw and isolate themselves, show signs of depression, express feelings of hopelessness, and appear distracted during conversations.
“When you see family members or friends like that, encourage them to seek care,” Okanlawoan said.
Other mental health professionals point out signs to watch for, such as impulsive or reckless actions; neglecting personal appearance; physical health issues or worsening conditions linked to stress; misuse of alcohol or drugs; and anhedonia, which means losing interest in activities that used to be enjoyable.
Further indicators may include irritability, talking about past regrets, feelings of worthlessness and noticeable changes in behavior.
Recognizing these signs is crucial, but so is creating spaces where people can find comfort. CRPD’s event featured mini horses from Biscuit Buddies to help people feel calm and supported.
Outside of this annual event, CRPD joined the Community Response Team, a program established in 2017 by the Douglas County Mental Health Initiative. The CRT pairs officers or deputies with mental health clinicians to respond together to individuals experiencing mental health crises.
“We get them connected with resources before things get to a point where it’s too late. We’re trying to keep people out of jail, out of the emergency rooms where there are stressors of hospital bills on top of things,” O’Donnell said.
As of 2024, these CRTs have handled over 12,000 calls, providing crisis intervention, follow-ups, safety plans, and connecting nearly 8,000 people with needed resources, according to the Douglas County website.
Type of story: News
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. To read more about why you can trust the journalism of Rocky Mountain PBS, please visit our editorial standards and practices page.
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. To read more about why you can trust the journalism of Rocky Mountain PBS, please visit our editorial standards and practices page.