MOUNTAIN LIFEWORKS

MOUNTAIN LIFEWORKS focuses on the connectivity between mental health conditions like depression and socio-economic factors like housing, unemployment and poverty. Traditional non-profit and government models are influenced by political will and trickle down economics, while only addressing up to 35% of real life challenges. MOUNTAIN LIFEWORKS targets the 65% or more of contributing factors charities and government do not by helping level economic playing fields, advance inclusion, promote education and create meaningful opportunities for our most vulnerable and underserved.

MOUNTAIN LIFEWORKS complements charity and government efforts with philanthropic strategies and proven enterprise solutions to expand options and expertise. By targeting the root causes of the poverty-depression cycle and the suffering it causes MOUNTAIN LIFEWORKS helps increase positive outcomes, train and retain needed healthcare, childcare and other critical expertise, while reducing dependence on charity assistance and government programs. This increases positive outcomes while empowering people to help themselves and their neighbors when they need it most.

SUICIDE Facts  ALL 50 STATES | AFSP

Suicide statistics | AFSP

Facts About Suicide (cdc.gov)

Risk Factors for Suicide | Psychology Today

ABOUT Contributing Factors

Poverty is the most common economic factor associated with suicide, and can trigger or exacerbate mental health conditions like depression. Mountain Lifeworks recognizes mental illnesses can be triggered or aggravated by other contributing factors fueling suicide rates more than originally thought. Job loss, housing and other issues are not exclusive to any cause or community and can influence and intensify mental illness.

Depression is the most common mental health condition associated with suicide, and it can be complicated by disabilities, medical conditions and other contributing factors! It's not hard to connect the dots from unemployment and poverty to isolation, substance abuse and suicide. Mountain Lifeworks attacks contributing factors with proven expertise and solutions to increase positive outcomes for our neighbors.

Risk and Protective Factors (cdc.gov)

Stats of the States - Suicide Mortality (cdc.gov)

Colorado Suicide Stats | AFSP

ABOUT Depression, Poverty & Suicide

- Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. (WHO)

- Depression is a factor in over 50% of all suicides. (CDC)

- In ALL 50 STATES the poverty rate is higher among families with members with a disability than among families without. (US Census Special Report)

- 47% of working caregivers indicate an increase in care-giving expenses has used up ALL or MOST of their savings. (US Census Special Report)

- The average working family caregiver provides 32 per week of unpaid care (NAMI)

- Persons with disabilities are unemployed at 2X the rate of those without a disability (US Dept. of Labor)

- People with disabilities live in poverty at more than TWICE the rate of people without disabilities (National Council on Disability)

- Families in which one member has a disability have median incomes more than 15% lower than non-care-giving families. (US Census Special Report)

- Adults with disabilities were 3X more likely to report suicidal ideation in the past month compared to persons without disabilities (CDC)

- Veterans have an adjusted suicide rate that is 52.3% greater than the non-veteran US adult population (CDC)

- Rural counties are being hit the hardest with suicide rates DOUBLE the rate in urban counties. (SAMHSA)

- A UCLA Study indicated suicide rates in the U.S. are closely correlated to poverty rates. (American Journal of Preventive Medicine)

Suicide rising across the US | VitalSigns | CDC

FastStats - Suicide and Self-Inflicted Injury (cdc.gov)

Help Prevent Suicide | SAMHSA

Disparities in Suicide | CDC