GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) — The Mesa County coroner say 55 residents took their own lives last year, the most in five years.
The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reported Monday that was nine more than 2017 and seven more than 2016.
Coroner Victor Yahn calls the increase disheartening.
Yahn's annual report on deaths in the county says nearly half of those who took their own lives had attempted to do so in the past or expressed thoughts about it.
The report says 32% received mental health services and 13% didn't. It was unknown whether they had in 55% of cases.
Sarah Robinson of Mesa County Public Health said the report is one of several sources the organization looks at. She says the group will continue assessing data to determine whether it's meeting the public's needs.