Larimer County’s rapidly rising suicide rate — 33 people have killed themselves so far this year — will be the focus of a public forum where experts and community members will talk about the problem.
“If we had that many homicides in our community, a police task force would be formed and there would be public outcry to do something about it,” said Lori Daigle, executive director for the Alliance for Suicide Prevention.
Diagle will be part of the forum scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. at The Coloradoan, Community Meeting Room, 1300 Riverside Ave. in Fort Collins.
Joining Diagle will be Nichole Randazzo, Thompson School District family engagement and academic intervention specialist; Kass Miles Schreiber, Touchstone Health Partners intensive care coordinator; and Melanie Voegeli-Morris, Poudre School District’s student assistant services coordinator.
A special guest on the panel will be Michelle Venus, whose long-time partner Kyle Dyas committed suicide in March 2011.
“What people don’t realize is that suicide is death from an illness – mental illness. It really isn’t all that different from dying of cancer or heart disease,” Venus said. “But because mental illness has negative associations, and because it makes people uncomfortable, we tend to shy away from dialog surrounding these topics.
The forum will be sponsored by Kim Sharpe, coordinator of the Healthier Communities Coalition of Larimer County. It’s sponsored by Rocky Mountain Parent magazine and KRFC 88.9 FM public radio.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
