Then, more tragedy. In 2011, six teens took their lives in the county.

In 2012, seven more.

But a concerted effort by the school district, sheriff's office and other organizations is making a big difference in reducing the rate of teen suicides in Douglas County. So far this year, there hasn't been a single teenager who has taken his or her life, according to Douglas County Coroner Lora Thomas.

Suicide rates can fluctuate year to year and need to be measured over time, officials said, so there's caution along with celebration.

But those involved with the prevention effort are nonetheless relieved that the number of suicides is nonexistent so far this year.

"You really have to look at a pattern over a large period of time," said Jarrod Hindman, director of the Officeare also brought on board.

Some schools in the Douglas County School District offer a program called "Signs of Suicide" that teaches students how to recognize suicide warning signs, how to ask questions when they encounter someone with those thoughts and how to get help.

"Kids have a lot of pressure with school and college and friends and bullying and different things that might be going on in their lives," Harvey said. "It could be anything."

Another part of the continued suicide-prevention effort in Douglas County is based in educating parents and other adults who work with children.

Sheri Cole is the chairwoman of the Colorado chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She became involved in suicide prevention when her son, David, took his own life in 2009. It was