Now What?
What does the data mean for your community?
Monthly Updates
This section of our site is to share trends, observations, suggestions and recommendations based on our experiences with your teens with the intent to be preventative and helpful to communities as they work to understand their teen’s experience of stress and suicidal thoughts and plans. Again, aggregate data, suggestions, observations will not identify any one individual/s as services are confidential.
Teens Text More
Across the state and amongst teens, the most common trends (stressors) for this period of time were ANXIETY, INFORMATIONAL, RELATIONSHIPS, DEPRESSION, and FAMILIAL. Texts for information are up significantly as texters are asking about COVID and associated resources.
There were 3,648 texts during this time. The volume amongst teens continues to be in El Paso County (17%) followed by Douglas, Arapahoe, Adams and Denver Counties. Utilization in Mesa and Weld Counties are up significantly as publicity of the text line has increased. March and April showed smaller numbers than when school is in session during this time of the year. May and June are showing larger numbers as many media outlets are consistently advertising text for stressors related to COVID and racial brutality fear and anger.
Teens (30%) are discussing social barriers due to no school or social outlets and the inability to earn summer income due to closures.
Least Restrictive
Nearly 40% of our texters are now over 27 years of age. The average age of texter is up since school has been out of session and media outlets have joined the campaign. The state marketing team continues to push out texting information on snapchat and Instagram. Statewide, texters identifying as female account for 72% of all texts.
Many teens have had school based counseling as part of support system and are missing that option. Our counselors remind them of tele-counseling options and importance of maintaining good self-care, effective coping, establishing a routine where possible and anger management.
Texts are received more consistently every day with a slight increase on Friday and Saturday. Spikes are more noticeable when school is in session and having less of a schedule to maintain is likely the difference.
During this time, there has been an increase in the number of referrals given out for care beyond the textline (13% vs. less than 3% in previous months). The social isolation, depression and lack of school support resources at this time are likely the difference. Parents are also looking for resources for their family members as well.
Teens from Colorado who text for support nationally rank 31st in the country for anxiety and 20th for depression and sadness.
“Can’t, Confused, Feeling, Different and Family” are words most often used when teens are texting 38255 about their anxiety.
Counselors are consistently reminding teens to share this resource with their friends as they are less likely to learn of it in school or social settings during this time.
Nearly 5% of teens who texted were assessed to be moderate-high risk for suicide. Our counselors are able to assess, stabilize and connect if needed to mobile crisis or walk-in services.
Text “TALK” to 38255
Previous Months
Historical Text Trend Reports Available below: