Weld County Sees Increase In Suicide Numbers
GREELEY, Colo. (AP) - Weld County officials say 40 suicides were reported in the county last year, double the number in 2000.
They say 2011 is on track to be another bad year.
Deputy Coroner Gracie Marquez tells the Greeley Tribune that 28 people had committed suicide by Sept. 1. At that pace, the 2011 total would exceed 40.
Behavioral health experts say theories for the increase include relationship problems, financial hardship, untreated mental illness and chronic pain from a degenerative illness.
The Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention says 940 people in Colorado died of suicide in 2009, nearly twice as many as those who died in vehicle crashes.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
