Strength in Community: We all Belong Here

Belonging is a powerful human need, and when we feel truly seen, heard, and included, it strengthens us in profound ways. Summit County is full of natural beauty, but it is the care, connection, and compassion of our people that give this place its heart.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and while it can feel difficult to talk about, we believe these conversations are also conversations of hope. Together, we can build a community where no one feels invisible and where everyone knows: We all belong here. In working at Building Hope, I get the immense privilege to witness how our community comes together to face tragedies. Through our efforts and all of our incredible community partners and community members, we hope to achieve zero suicides one day. 

One way to look at suicide prevention is through the core pillars that support wellness and connection: Awareness, Connection, Support, and Hope. Each of us can play a role in strengthening these pillars within our community.

Awareness: Understanding Saves Lives

Awareness is the first step in prevention. When we educate ourselves about mental health, learn to recognize the signs of someone struggling, and know where to turn for help, we reduce stigma and open doors.

• Learn the warning signs of suicide, such as withdrawal, hopelessness, or sudden changes in behavior.
  
• Normalize conversations about mental health at home, at work, and with friends.

• Take a training to increase your skills and comfortability in having difficult conversations.

Local Resources

Building Hope Summit County Free Community Training – We offer community trainings like QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) and Mental Health Navigation to empower residents to recognize and respond to mental health crises. For more information on Mental Health QPR Trainings. 

Review Training Opportunities for Your Teams and Groups – Building Hope offers many free trainings to various groups in the community and would love to support you! Check out our offerings here and fill out our interest form. Additionally, we update our Community Calendar all the time with various support and education opportunities.

Connection: Belonging Protects Us

Isolation is one of the strongest risk factors for suicide, and belonging is one of the greatest protective factors. When we feel connected—to our neighbors, to our culture, to our community—we are reminded that we matter.

Ways you can foster connection:

• Invite a friend or neighbor to join you for a walk, meal, or community event.
  
• Volunteer with local organizations and meet others with shared purpose.
• Offer a listening ear to someone who may be going through a tough time.
  

Local Resources

• Building Hope Community Connectedness, Family Connectedness, & HYPE Events – Free monthly gatherings where residents can connect over activities like yoga, art, hiking, and more. Click here to check out the calendar of events!
• Family & Intercultural Resource Center (FIRC) – Provides family-strengthening programs, support groups, and community-building initiatives.
  
• Summit County Libraries – Hosts events and programs for all ages that bring people together.

Have an Idea for a Connection Event? – Reach out to Nadia Borovich, Community Wellness Coordinator at Building Hope, with ideas for partnering on events that can bring our community together and strengthen our mental health at nadia@buildinghopesummit.org!

Hope: A Community That Cares

Hope is at the heart of prevention. It’s the belief that healing is possible, that tomorrow can be brighter, and that no one is truly alone. Every time we show kindness, extend compassion, or remind someone of their worth, we strengthen hope in Summit County.

How to nurture hope:

• Celebrate recovery and resilience stories within our community.

• Support initiatives that promote mental health and wellness for all ages.

• Remember that sometimes the smallest gestures—a smile, a kind word, an invitation—can have the biggest impact.

Local Resources

• Building Hope Wants to Share Your Story of Resilience! – Have you gone through mental health struggles and found your way through? We’ll be rolling out a new Community Share form in the October newsletter, so that the stories in our community can be shared for collective healing and hope building. In the meantime, read through these incredible stories of resilience through our Faces of Hope campaign.

  Support Groups – There are a variety of support groups in the county where you can hear from many people on their own healing journeys and feel support.. You can find many of these in the Building Hope Newsletter and on the Building Hope Community Calendar.

  Pay Attention to the Good – These days it can be easy to watch the news, scroll through social media, or more specifically, the One Man’s Junk page on Facebook, and feel very discouraged at the state of our world. With this prevalence, it is important to intentionally take in and reflect on the good in the world. Follow social media accounts like Upworthy, be the catalyst for good through small acts of kindness, and notice and focus on the small pleasures and kindnesses you witness each day.

Together, We All Belong

Suicide prevention is not just about responding in moments of crisis—it’s about building a community where no one feels alone in the first place. By raising awareness, creating connections, offering support, and nurturing hope, we make Summit County a place where every individual feels valued and included. It is with this in mind that we put on our Walk With Hope annual event, and we would love to see you there! Click here for more information!

This September, let’s recommit to each other: to check in, to show up, to listen, and to remind our neighbors, family, and friends that they belong here. Because they do. We all do.

You are not alone. Help is here. Hope is here.

💚 If You or Someone You Know Needs Help:

• 988 Colorado Mental Health line – Call or text 988 anytime.

  Dial 911 and Ask for the SMART Team – For urgent and imminent crises locally.

  Call Paragon Behavioral Health @ 720.610.2670 – To have local mental health crisis support come directly to you for less urgent and imminent crises.

  Building Hope Summit County – Visit buildinghopesummit.org for free therapy scholarships, support groups, and community events.