Four Source Summaries: Factors Of Suicide Rates Rising In Colorado
Submitted By chonchel1
Words: 1124
Pages: 5
Cassie Honchel
M.Spencer
Eng 121
22 Mar 2014
Four Source Summaries: Factors of Suicide Rates Rising in Colorado Part A
1. Meredith C. Carroll, former columnist for The Aspen Times and current columnist for The Denver Post, reveals in her article, “Grim Suicide Statistics Plague Colorado”, just how shocking Colorado suicide rates are in comparison to the national average and what might have a hand in increasing these statistics; specifically Colorado's geography. Carroll states that in Colorado, states of higher elevation or “mountain towns”, have a higher suicide rate than towns of lower elevation in the state (1). Director of the Office of Suicide Prevention for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Jarrod Hindman, explains how people migrate to Colorado envisioning a more enlightened life- not considering that, “[. . .] that life can be doubly troubling if they still don't find themselves more content as a result” (1). Carroll suggests that Colorado’s wide open spaces could also be to blame; seeing as those coping with depression in a less community-like setting would make one less inclined to reach out for help. Since 2012, when suicide rates in Colorado reached an all-time high, Carroll notes that, “More help has become available in the past few years across the state [. . .]” (1). Since towns and small communities within towns are located so far apart, limited access to psychological counseling and mental health clinics plays one of the largest roles in Colorado's increasing suicide rate.
Part B Kairos: In 2012, suicide rates in Colorado increased 12% since only the previous year marking a record high for the state at 27.3%. Not only does the current rate of 19.7% nearly double the national average of 10.4%, Colorado has remained on the top-ten list of states in America with the highest suicide rates since as early as 1940. Not only Colorado but other mountainous states such as New Mexico, Alaska, and Wyoming have remained on this list over a nearly 25 year time period. This is a topic of which little research and explanation has been given not only in the state of Colorado, but nationwide. Understanding what triggers those living in highly elevated states, especially Colorado, to commit suicide is of key importance to explaining why suicide rates are higher in the western world.
Audience: Citizens of Colorado, parents, teenagers, mental health institutions, people attending public schools, people living at or below the poverty line, people living in highly elevated areas of Colorado, people living with depression, those considering moving to the state, and families of those related to suicide victims.
(Working Title) Factors in Colorado's Raising Suicide Rates
I. Introductory Paragraph
Over the past ten years, the state of Colorado has teetered back and fourth between the fifth and sixth slot of states in America with the highest suicide rate percentage. Considering the preconceived notion of a more enlightened life in Colorado, many would find this fact to be shocking, even bizarre. However, there are plenty of factors to consider such as the mere geography and topography of Colorado, gun laws, poverty rates, and the economy.
II. Viewpoint one- The geography of Colorado, including rural, wide open spaces and high elevation can factor in a number of reasons why the suicide rates continue to remain so high. Areas of higher elevation (in comparison to other states in America), such as Colorado Springs, have access to only ¾ the amount of oxygen you breathe at sea level (logos); thus sending less oxygen flow to the brain and affecting our day-to-day mental and physical status. When looking at a suicide map of the United States you can clearly tell that suicide rates of those states located in the west are much higher than those of states located at lower elevations
Related Documents: Four Source Summaries: Factors Of Suicide Rates Rising In Colorado
Columbine Highschool Massacre Gunmen: Eric Harris Dylan Clebold Where: Colombine highschool, Colorado Times: Start & Finnish: 11:19-12:08 Buses start arriving: APPROXIMATELY 3-4 Victims: Injured: 21 Killed: 15(including gunmen) Initial incident: 1. Rachel Scott, age 17, killed by shots to the head, torso, and leg on a grassy area next to the West Entrance of the school. 2. Richard Castaldo, age 17, shot in the arm, chest, back and abdomen on the same grassy area. 3. Daniel Rohrbough, age 15…
Freedom Vs. Saftey The first states to legalize marijuana is Colorado and Washington. Since then there was no criminal increase nor decrease. Therefore marijuana should be legalized in NJ because its proven to reduce effects of insomnia, mood disorders, and aggressive types of cancer. Insomnia is an abnormal inability to get enough rest. Shockingly the effects of marijuana relaxes and tires the body therefore curing insomnia. The long term effects of chronic insomnia are: heart disease…
effects , marijuana's primary cannabinoids, are both cancer killers. No, I'm not talking about using marijuana to help manage cancer's effects. It's actually anti-cancer. Dr. Johanna Budwig’s research out of Spain analyzed the statistical trend of suicide after introduction of medical marijuana.suggests that THC, marijuana's psychoactive ingredient, kills brain cancer cells. Study co-author Guillermo Velasco claims that when THC was applied to cancerous brain tissue, the cancer cells were killed while…
cannot take guns completely away from good citizens because it would be unconstitutional. We have to deal with the consequences of mistakes and actions by the government (Amrhein, 2013). A magazine is the part of the gun that holds the bullets. Colorado recently put into effect a law limiting the number of bullets allowed in a magazine of a gun down…
Judge 1 Carollynn Judge Ms. Kocheff Honors English 9 20 October 2014 Inexperienced Hunters At just 14, Ian Muro was claimed to be an experienced hunter. The Colorado teen had already accumulated much game as his. He would go out hunting often, alone. Little did he know this would lead to his demise. Ian accidentally shot himself the week of 23 October, 2013. A memorial service held soon after his death brought many people together to commemorate his loss (9news.com). Deaths like Ian’s happen surprisingly often…
the civilian population, or any segment thereof in furtherance of political or social objectives,” into reality in the United States. 17 years later the American people would again relive similar experiences through the Aurora Shooting in Aurora, Colorado on July 20,2012 and the Sikh Temple Shooting in Wisconsin on August 5, 2012. James Eagan Holmes committed the horror in Aurora on a Friday night during the midnight movie premiere of The Dark Knight Rises. He used multiple firearms and tear gas…
belief that is still held to some extent, but is starting to fade away. Many people have come to realize that bullying isn’t just kids being kids, but that it’s a serious behavior problem that needs to be addressed. Bullying in some cases leads to suicide and homicide for the victims. Many people, have brushed bullying aside. Some say that it’s just boys being boys, or that telling a teacher about bullying is tattling, and that words will never hurt you. Pacer.org These are all dismissive statements…
Recently, an event In aurora, Colorado, re-sparked the age old debate of gun control in the united states. James Holmes was a young and well educated man who killed 12 people in a matter of seconds. What enabled him to murder so many people in such a small matter of time was not because he had the training or experience to do so, but because the law allowed him to purchase guns and ammunition, objects which are designed to easily kill people. Guns must be banned in the United states to prevent…
Government Research Paper: Gun Control Stricter Gun Control policies have been an ongoing issue in America for the past couple of months. In 2010, gun related offenses caused thirty-one thousand and seventy-six deaths in America through homicides, suicides, and unintentional shootings. This is the equivalent of more than eighty-five deaths each day and more than three deaths each hour. Lawmakers have debated over whether stricter gun laws can fully deter or reduce crime and whether fewer bullets in…
Persuasive Speech – Gun Control Gun control has always been an issue in the United States. Crimes and guns. The two seem to go hand in hand with one another. The debate over gun control is nothing new. In 1924, Presidential Candidate La Follete said, “our choice is not merely to support or oppose gun control but to decide who can own which guns under what conditions.” Guns are extremely powerful weapons. They can cause destruction, harm or death. They can be used to defend yourself or to threaten…