LETTERS

mental health initiatives suicide prevention roadmap states that nearly 62% of all suicide deaths in Douglas County are from individuals who have a history of mental health issues. e Colorado Department of Public Health Douglas County states that of the youth who committed suicide over a four year period, nearly 27% were on antidepressants, and nearly 40% had alcohol and 20% had marijuana in their systems when they died, and nearly 17% had opiates in their system respectively when they died. I’m skeptical that building “positive networks of support and inclusion” will be adequate to help these youths overcome drug and alcohol addiction.

Picking a group of people to support based on particular attribute of said group (e.g., their sexual orientation) is degrading and inhumane.

can validate that. I intentionally keep a word bank, a word bank that is top of mind and heart. A word bank that includes words like love, grace, kindness, gentleness, goodness, mercy, justice, forgiveness, passion, compassion, patience, faith, hope, encouragement, excellence, praiseworthy, joy, happiness, pure, powerful, positive, courage, strength, endurance, gratitude, humility, motivation, inspira- is decision makes me question whether our country commissioners really care about the needs of all youth.

Ursula Kakos, Castle Rock

The decline of Castle Rock e rate of growth approved by some on Castle Rock Town Council is stunning, especially when you consider that most of the new buildings are nothing more than overpriced apartments that aren’t a ordable by most people who work within the city. ese massive apartment complexes, which are being approved by the Planning Commision and Town Council, are a windfall for developers, but do absolutely nothing for the equity position of the renters. Were these approved to increase the pro tability, and cash ow, of the developers, because there is absolutely no way these will help the renters gain a foot-

Editor’s note: is letter is being rerun because part of it was inadvertently cut last week.