For the first time the U.S. Department of Veteran鈥檚 Affairs has released . It shows Colorado鈥檚 rate at 47.1 per 100,000 people, while the national rate is 38. Overall, suicide rates are highest in Western states.
The data shows in 2014 in 178 veterans committed suicide. Almost all were men and more than 65 percent used a gun.
This doesn鈥檛 surprise Jarrod Hindman with the .
鈥淗igher rates in the West are not unique to veterans,鈥� Hindman says. 鈥淥ur suicide rates in general are higher in the Rocky Mountain West. Colorado has always ranked in the top 10 for suicide death rate.鈥�
He says social isolation, high gun ownership and barriers to mental health care are some of the contributing reasons -- but Hindman also thinks there鈥檚 something special to western states that鈥檚 driving up the rates.
鈥淚n the Rocky Mountain West and the Western United States we really embrace the concept of rugged individualism -- this notion that if you鈥檙e struggling with something, particularly if it鈥檚 an emotional issue, you pull yourself up by your bootstraps, you don鈥檛 ask for help, you solve your problems on your own and privately,鈥� Hindman explains. 鈥淭hat can be dangerous if someone is feeling suicidal. You can鈥檛 bootstrap your way through a brain disorder.鈥�
He says this fear of asking for help may be higher for veterans.
鈥淲e really need to change that,鈥� says Hindman. 鈥淚f you want to be whole and healthy, not only do you have to be physically well, you have to be emotionally well.鈥�
According to the VA data, firearms are the leading method of suicide among veterans, another finding that doesn鈥檛 shock Hindman.
鈥淪tates in the U.S. that have higher in home firearm ownership rates are also states that have higher suicide rates,鈥� he says.
To combat this, the state has partnered with gun shop and firing range owners for the to raise awareness and help prevent sales to those at risk.
The documents say Montana, Utah, Nevada and New Mexico have the highest rates in the country. The data released is into more than 55 million records spanning over 35 years. They hope to use the data to better develop suicide prevention programs.
Correction: A previous version of this story heard on air inaccurately described Colorado鈥檚 rate for veteran suicide at 47.1 percent. The rate should have been expressed as 47.1 per 100,000 people.
