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Bayfield woman dies from gunshot wound

Longtime La Plata County resident was dealing with health issues

A 64-year-old Bayfield woman was found dead Sunday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith said Tove Westwood was found by family members around 9:20 a.m. at her home, where she lived alone.

Smith said Westwood, a longtime La Plata County resident, had been dealing with medical issues. Smith was unaware where Westwood’s family lived.

An autopsy will be performed this week, Smith said.

Suicide resources

Help for people having suicidal thoughts or for those who fear a person is considering killing himself can be found from these sources:

Axis Health System:

24-hour hotline at 247-5245.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline:

(800) 273-TALK (8255) or text “TALK” to 741741.

RED Nacional de PrevencióN Del Suicidio:

(888) 628-9454.

National Crisis text Hotline:

741741

Fort Lewis College Counseling Center:

247-7212.

Boys Town Hotline:

(800) 448-3000.

Safe2Tell Colorado:

(877) 542-7233 or online at

https://safe2tell.org

.

Colorado Crisis Support Line:

(844) 493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255 or online at

http://www.coloradocrisisservices.org/

to access a live chat available in 17 languages. The line has mental-health professionals available to talk to adults or youths about any crisis, 24 hours a day.

Trevor Project:

(866) 488-7386. Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth via online chat, text or phone.

Southern Ute Community ACtion Program:

Visit

www.sucap.org

and click on Suicide Prevention for a list of trained gatekeepers.

Second Wind Fund:

(720) 962-0706. This is not a crisis hotline, but the fund is available to youths who face social or financial barriers to crisis counseling. The organization requires a referral by a school counselor or mental-health professional.

Survivors Support GrouP:

Heartbeat of Durango meets from 6 to 8 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month at the Grief Center, 2243 Main Ave., second floor. Contact Janna for information at 749-1673.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:

Colorado chapter information available at

https://afsp.org/chapter/afsp-colorado/

For Men:

A website for adult men contemplating suicide, who often are unwilling to seek help, is available at

www.mantherapy.org

.