The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 26 adopted a proclamation declaring September 2025 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in Gilpin County.

Tasha Holtzman, a crisis and school-based clinician with Jefferson Center for Mental Health, read the proclamation describing suicide as a public-health issue in rural Colorado and calling for increased awareness, reduced stigma and expanded access to services. “Every person has the power to make a difference for a child, 1 trusted adult can be life changing,” Holtzman read.

The proclamation recognizes Jefferson Center and the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Jefferson, Gilpin and Clear Creek Counties for work providing services in schools and community settings and for training programs such as Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR). The board thanked the Jefferson Center representatives and noted continued interest in local resources, including crisis lines and veteran supports.

Ending: The board formally adopted the proclamation and asked staff to share information about local prevention resources and trainings with the public.