by Will Sands

A Durango group is doing its part to win the race against teen suicide. Formed in 2010, the Second Wind Fund of Four Corners Colorado is working to decrease the incidence of suicide in the region and launching a new adventure race to raise both funds and awareness.

 
The Second Wind Fund traces its roots to the Front Range, where it was founded in 2002 after four students at a Jefferson County school took their lives in a nine-month period. The group was formed with a simple mission – decrease the incidence of teen suicide by removing financial and social barriers to treatment. Early in 2010, the Second Wind Fund brought that charge to the Four Corners and opened an office in Durango.

“Everyone deserves that second wind and a second shot at survival,” said Lillian Ramey, director of the local branch. “We’re here to help at-risk adolescents make positive changes in their lives.”

Colorado is no stranger to teen suicide. Ramey noted that suicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents in the state (behind automobile accidents), and one in four teen-agers have more than passing suicidal thoughts in a given year. These numbers put Colorado well above the national averages and spotlight an increasing need, she added.

“Lack of funds for counseling and treatment is a major reason for not seeking help, and that’s really what got the Second Wind Fund going,” Ramey said. “Our goal is to be able to fund quick and easy access to treatment for uninsured and underinsured youth and get at-risk 
adolescents into a licensed therapist within 24 hours.”

Colorado posts such high numbers for largely rural reasons, Ramey said. On the one hand, Coloradans have easy access to firearms. On the other, suicide carries a negative stigma in the state, and talk and treatment are frequently considered taboo. Whatever the causes, the effects of teen suicide on families and communities are well known.

“The loss of a teen-ager or adult goes well beyond affecting that one person,” Ramey said. “The ripple effect is extreme, and suicide shakes the entire community. A future has been lost, and all of the hopes and dreams that youth brought to the community are gone.”

Since starting in January of last year, the Second Wind Fund has worked with 18 youths in the region and steered them toward recovery. As 2011 draws to a close, the fund is hoping to offer that second wind and second chance to more Four Corners residents. To that end, the group is partnering with Durango Mountain Resort to host the Second Wind Scramble on Sept. 17. The goal is twofold: raise funds for continued treatment of at-risk youth and increase community awareness about the teen suicide problem.

“We think this race will offer a fun experience for participants while also providing a great opportunity to increase awareness about the impacts of suicide and the importance of getting help,” Ramey said.

Organizers are making an extra effort to reach out to individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide to get them involved in the event. Leslie Smith, the Second Wind Scramble’s volunteer coordinator/director, is one person who is especially passionate about the fund raiser. She lost her brother to suicide this year. “It’s a beautiful way to honor the lives we have lost, and celebrate the lives we have,” Smith said. “I’m so thankful to be involved.”

Another hope is that the Second Wind Scramble will go beyond raising funds and start to break down some age-old taboos. Teen suicide is nothing new for Southwest Colorado. However, Ramey hopes that easy and affordable access to treatment will be.

“People need to know that it’s okay to talk about teen suicide,” Ramey said. “People also need to know that there are resources out there and help is available.”

More information on the Second Wind Fund can be found at www.secondwind4corners.org or by calling 970-946-9586.