It Only Takes a Moment
It can happen without warning, and life is needlessly lost. Teen suicide is the leading cause of death of young people in Colorado, and teenagers often don’t show warning signs at home.
It only takes a moment for a teen to make an impulsive decision to take their lives when they find themselves in a dark place with nowhere to turn, and access to firearms.
"Too frequently, we see families experience the highest tragedy when they lose a child to suicide. A real, meaningful way to help protect your family is to properly secure your firearms when not in use. It only takes a moment. If you own it, respect it, and secure it,” said Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith.
The Larimer County Juvenile Gun Safety Coalition has joined with many organizations to foster awareness of gun safety and teens struggling with mental health issues with the “It Only Takes a Moment” campaign covering gun safety tips and teen mental health awareness.
“Everyone can help to save a life, and it’s easier than you think,” said Rachel Olsen, Imagine Zero Coordinator, Alliance for Suicide Prevention. “Lock up your guns so your children can’t access them in a moment of crisis.”
It only takes a moment for a teen struggling with mental health issues to take their own life. Still, it also only takes a moment for a responsible gun owner to safely store and secure their firearms to eliminate an impulsive, tragic, and life-changing decision.
“Unfortunately, we do see a number of patients in our emergency departments every year who have attempted suicide by a number of methods. However, we don’t see suicide by gun when everything is locked up,” said Dr. Jamie Teumer, a longtime emergency physician in northern Colorado and Medical Director of UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland. “The most difficult situation is when the attempt comes out of the blue and no one had any inkling that this could possibly happen. That’s why it’s important for anyone who owns a gun to make sure it is always stored responsibly. It’s a simple step that can save a life.”
Adults can take several steps to prevent teen suicide:
The Larimer County Juvenile Gun Safety Coalition thanks Big Waves Inc. and UCHealth for their contributions and support, which made this new campaign possible.
Campaign Videos
See the "It Only Takes a Moment" full video and vignettes (5 short clips).
More Information
Please take the time to look over our webpage - more info & resources can be found in the other tabs, organized by key topic.
The Larimer County Juvenile Gun Safety Coalition launched a new public service campaign in 2021 - look below to see the new video and press release.