Aspen has no psych beds, but it’s pushing other ways to stop suicides

The Denver Post

Although the year-round population of Aspen is small (around 6,700), the town hosts many visitors who come from around the world to ski nearby. The county’s suicide rate is higher than both the state and national averages, but there is no local inpatient facility for behavioral health patients. To try and fill this treatment gap, the Aspen Hope Center offers a “Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program” for people in crisis, in which participants attend several therapy sessions daily and check in with a counselor twice a day. The community is making other efforts, as well, such as training more than 350 people to recognize suicide warning signs in schools, churches, and other settings and maintaining two 24-hour crisis hotlines. A new outreach campaign, “Erase the Stigma,” includes radio spots, posters, and signs – posted around town and along ski lift routes – reminding people to stay connected and seek help when they need it.