The Suicide Prevention Commission (Commission), created by the passage of Senate Bill 2014-088, was created to provide public and private leadership for suicide prevention and intervention in Colorado; to set statewide, data-driven, evidence-based, and clinically informed suicide prevention priorities; and, to serve as an advisory board to the Office of Suicide Prevention at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The Commission sets strategy and implementation plans for each statewide suicide prevention priority. The Commission also expands local and national partnerships and resources for suicide prevention activities in Colorado, and provides a forum for members to make recommendations to the Office of Suicide Prevention, the Governor’s Office, and the General Assembly on policies and programs to reduce suicide in Colorado. Local and national partnerships ensure that suicide prevention remains a priority by expanding resources, promoting coordination among suicide prevention programs and strategies, and encouraging the development of suicide prevention plans at the local level.  

The Office of Suicide Prevention is currently recruiting individuals to submit applications for consideration to serve on the Commission. The Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will appoint up to twenty-six members to the Commission, representing the following lived experiences, organizations, and professional expertise:

• Representative from the Office of Suicide Prevention in the Department of Public Health and the Environment
• Representative from the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) in the Department of Human Services
• Representative from Law Enforcement
• Representative from Higher Education
• Representative from K-12 Education
• Representative from an Employee Assistance Program or Human Resources in the Private Sector
• Representative from the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado
• Licensed Mental Health Professional
• Tribal Community Liaison (formerly a Representative from the Behavioral Health Transformation Council, now sunset)
• Active Member or Veteran of the United States Military who has been Affected by Suicide
• Representative from the Colorado Youth Advisory Council
• Family Member of a Person who Died by Suicide
• Person who has Attempted Suicide, Recovered, and is Now Thriving
• Person Representing a Philanthropic Foundation
• Representative of Medical Providers or First Responders
• Representative from a Hospital with an On-Site Emergency Department
• Representative from the Agricultural and Ranching Industry
• Representative from the Oil and Gas Industry from a Rural Area
• At least Three Members of the Colorado Business Community, One of whom Represents a Rural Area
• Representative of the Suicide Prevention Nonprofit Community
• Representative from a Nonprofit Community Service Club
• Representative from an Interfaith Organization
• Representative from the School Safety Resource Center with Experience in Bullying, including Cyber Bullying
• Representative from the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

PLEASE NOTE:  Applications to currently vacant Commission seats will be prioritized for review.