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'I lost five people in 18 months': Chilling mystery behind America's ski town 'Suicide Belt'
DAILYMAIL.COM ^ | 14 January 2024 | WILL POTTER

Posted on 01/14/2024 5:47:43 AM PST by dennisw

A disturbing number of suicides are sweeping America's party-obsessed ski towns, raising the alarm over why so many residents in vacation hotspots are taking their own lives.

Often dubbed the 'paradise paradox' by mental health experts, high-altitude party towns in the Rockies are seeing record numbers of suicides that stand in stark contrast to the picturesque lifestyle they claim to offer.

Factors leading to the rise include the transient way of life on the slopes, financial instability, isolation from cities, and a lack of decent mental healthcare investment from tourism-focused local governments.

As Victoria Mendoza, a 17-year-old resident of Grand Junction, Colorado, put it to NPR in 2018 after seven teenagers killed themselves in her town that year: 'It feels like there's this cloud around our whole valley.'

'I lost five people in 18 months': Chilling mystery behind America's ski town 'Suicide Belt' - and why FOUR out of the six states with highest suicide rates are in the Rockies Ski towns across the Rockies are seeing an alarming surge in suicide rates

The 'paradise paradox' sees party hotspots become sad places to live Experts note transient mountain lifestyles and a lack of services as the cause

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy
KEYWORDS: skibums; skiing; suicides
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1 posted on 01/14/2024 5:47:43 AM PST by dennisw
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To: dennisw

“Isolation from cities” is all bonus.


2 posted on 01/14/2024 5:59:10 AM PST by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: dennisw

Was working with a company consulting in Bar Harbor one winter.

Walked into the only open restaurant we could find. Sat up at the bar and turned to the patron in the next seat.

Who answered our greeting withe the words:
February is suicide-month.


3 posted on 01/14/2024 6:00:25 AM PST by Chickensoup
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To: dennisw

Being a ski bum seems like a great idea when you’re in your twenties. Then one day you’re in your thirties or forties and realize you’re still making almost nothing working in a restaurant or running a ski lift and now have few prospects for a better life. Plus, drugs and alcohol are a big part of the ski bum lifestyle, which is certainly not good for long term mental health. The author of the piece wants to blame it on anything other than poor decision making.


4 posted on 01/14/2024 6:05:13 AM PST by KevinB (Word for the day: "kakistocracy" - a society governed by its least suitable or competent citizens)
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To: Chickensoup

I was in Bar Harbor many times in the 1990s. It was a beautiful place and full of fun women and good eats. But I only went Late May onward.

Lobster gets boring after a while/


5 posted on 01/14/2024 6:07:13 AM PST by dennisw (Be positive. Every day is a new day.These)
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To: KevinB

The U.S. ski bum-scum areas are full of rich, spoiled, liberal retards.

The voting data is unmistakable; it’s nearly impossible to find a ski resort area (at least a high profile one) even in the “reddest” of states like Idaho, Wyoming and Utah that isn’t loony leftist at the ballot box.

It wasn’t always unanimous like it is now; back when President Ford was a regular visitor to Vail, that place was considered to be a decent alternative to the trendy asswipes in Aspen. Vail sucks just about as bad as Aspen these days, and that’s quite a difficult “accomplishment”.

If these fragile liberal snowflakes want to off themselves, more power to them.


6 posted on 01/14/2024 6:12:08 AM PST by PermaRag (Joo Biden is not my President)
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To: dennisw
This is Colorado, so...

Factors leading to the rise include  MARIJUANA, the transient way of life on the slopes, financial instability, isolation from cities, and a lack of decent mental healthcare investment from tourism-focused local governments.

7 posted on 01/14/2024 6:15:14 AM PST by Responsibility2nd (A truth that’s told with bad intent, Beats all the lies you can invent ~ Wm. Blake)
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To: dennisw

I wouldn’t really call Grand Junction a ski town.


8 posted on 01/14/2024 6:17:18 AM PST by FreedomForce
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To: dennisw

Cape Cod in winter claims its share of victims, as well.


9 posted on 01/14/2024 6:17:55 AM PST by BillyBonebrake
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To: dennisw

When one puts their faith in people, places, things, drugs, and activities, one will invariably be disappointed.

When one puts their faith in God, one will invariably be uplifted.


10 posted on 01/14/2024 6:21:55 AM PST by Eccl 10:2 (Prov 3:5 --- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding")
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To: dennisw
The 'paradise paradox' sees party hotspots become sad places to live.

That's because the locals can't afford a lift ticket much less housing.

11 posted on 01/14/2024 6:25:40 AM PST by usurper (AI was born with a birth defect.)
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To: dennisw

The suicides result from a feeling of personal failure as skiers realize they will never be able to ski the bumps.


12 posted on 01/14/2024 6:26:16 AM PST by bert ( (KWE. NP. N.C. +12) Hamasci de is required in totalhe)
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To: Eccl 10:2
When one puts their faith in people, places, things, drugs, and activities, one will invariably be disappointed

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Earthly things are nice to have, but they aren't the be-all end-all.

13 posted on 01/14/2024 6:27:10 AM PST by P.O.E. (Pray for America.)
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To: KevinB

+1


14 posted on 01/14/2024 6:27:46 AM PST by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
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To: dennisw

They think we baby boomers are “F’d” up. Mommy and Daddy’s money is all these little bums have. New cars, vacations 24/7/365, their back pack, water bottles, cellphones and their Panda Express bowls. They have no friends except the idiots on their social sites. They have no patriotism. They have no real education. They have no history. No religion. No goals. No REAL flag to stand up for. They have no country. They live in the “clouds” to “stay safe”. No wonder they are all suicidal.


15 posted on 01/14/2024 6:29:21 AM PST by FlingWingFlyer (Remember what happened last time we brought in forced labor. Support Abbott's Underground RR.)
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To: dennisw

The world is a cruel place. The better you have it, the more the random setbacks, tragedies, and outrages stand out without any good explanation.

People need something to look forward to, a better tomorrow. Eventually the godless materialists realize that life is a downward spiral that can only end in pain, humiliation, and death.

You need faith that defies the stark, cold realities of life.


16 posted on 01/14/2024 6:30:06 AM PST by hopespringseternal
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To: dennisw

I have an idea…let’s open up hundreds more Drug Dispensaries!


17 posted on 01/14/2024 6:30:07 AM PST by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
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To: PermaRag

PermaRag you’re right. I remember there was a large Trump sign on the side of 70 by Arrowhead in ‘16. That would never happen today. We loved to ski and for 22 years it was worth the weather, expense, tourists, and everything else to live close by, either in Summit or down valley Aspen. Left two years ago with no regrets. Won’t live with the crazy liberals anymore.


18 posted on 01/14/2024 6:30:41 AM PST by CA_soon_gone
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To: FreedomForce

Hey, Powderhorn is 50 miles away! They can probably take an electric trolley there.


19 posted on 01/14/2024 6:33:37 AM PST by crusty old prospector
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To: dennisw

The jab?


20 posted on 01/14/2024 6:35:22 AM PST by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts )
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