Advocacy

Email info@suicidepreventioncolorado.org to get added to the SPCC advocacy email list and stay up to date and/or join the committee. The committee meets during the Colorado legislative session(January-May) every other week.

WANT TO HELP

We need your help and your voice has power to influence state legislation concerning suicide prevention. You can be incredibly impactful and there is no need to be an expert on legislation. Legislators need to hear from you, as they are not typically well-versed on suicide prevention. The legislative season is quick and intense with many potential bills introduced on a daily basis. Therefore, our legislatures are not able to fully be knowledgeable on all issues and rely heavily on constituents. They need to hear your personal stories of lived experience. They appreciate these and remember them when voting.

Simple ways to be involved:

• Write/email your legislators
• Meet with them in person or virtually
• Testify in committees
• Respond to action alerts
• Write letters to the editor of newspapers

SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY

The 6th Annual Suicide Prevention Day at the Capitol will be held on March 20th, 2024.

Register here

Colorado is the only state that provides this opportunity in a collaborative approach with Mental Health Colorado, AFSP, and NAMI. Register now!

ADVOCACY ACTION ALERTS

During the legislative session (January through May) SPCC members are sometimes sent alerts about specific bills related to suicide prevention. Advocacy Bill Tracker.

SPCC contracts with a professional lobbyist to help increase effectiveness and exposure at the Capitol.

During the 2023 Legislative Session, SPCC along with Representative Judy Amabile and Representative Marc Catlin spearheaded HB23-1007. This bill requires all higher education institutions to print Colorado Crisis Services’ number and 988 on all student IDs. The bill received bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. On March 17th, 2023, Governor Polis signed it into law.

Collaboration

Has suicide loss affected you? Have you or someone close to you ever experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviors? Are you an ally in the fight to bring suicide in Colorado down to ZERO? Does your organization support the cause of suicide prevention?

If so, we need your voice now more than ever to join ours and help us provide much-needed support to everyone working to prevent suicide all across our state.

SPCC is working hard to save lives by educating, advocating and collaborating across Colorado to improve the training and resources we need to better reach the 478,000 Coloradoans currently living with overwhelming life changes, challenging mental health conditions and substance abuse issues before another suicide tragedy occurs.

We are a growing army of voices in Colorado, fighting for legislative change, and individuals like yourself are critical to the success of that effort.

The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado is taking applications for new board members! If you are interested in learning more about the opportunity visit our Board of Directors page.