Colorado Father Fights to End Teen Suicide After Son's Death

Rick Padilla has made it his mission to raise awareness and improve access to mental health resources for youth in the wake of his son Jack's tragic suicide.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Seven years after his 15-year-old son Jack died by suicide following bullying at school, Rick Padilla has dedicated himself to fighting the youth mental health crisis. Padilla left his job as Denver's housing director to become the city's first suicide prevention administrator, working to improve access to mental health care and reduce the stigma around seeking treatment, especially in underserved communities.

Why it matters

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth in the United States, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the mental health challenges facing young people. Padilla's story highlights the urgent need to address this public health crisis and provide more support and resources for struggling teens and their families.

The details

After Jack's death in 2019, Padilla was appointed as Denver's first suicide prevention administrator. In this role, he has worked to increase the number of clinicians of color serving diverse communities, address disparities in access to mental health care, and encourage open conversations about mental health struggles. Padilla emphasizes the importance of parents being attuned to warning signs like changes in behavior, and not being afraid to directly ask their children if they are having suicidal thoughts.

  • Jack Padilla died by suicide on Valentine's Day 2019 at the age of 15.
  • Seven years after Jack's death, his family and friends gathered to remember him at Village Greens Park in Greenwood Village.

The players

Rick Padilla

Jack Padilla's father, who left his job as Denver's housing director to become the city's first suicide prevention administrator after his son's death.

Jack Padilla

A 15-year-old student at Cherry Creek High School who died by suicide in 2019 after being bullied.

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What they’re saying

“We are in a mental health crisis in this country, we have been for many years. We need to get clinicians of color out there to serve our kids in their Black and Brown and Asian communities, as well as our White communities. There's just a lack of clinicians out there. I think there's a disparity for private pay versus Medicaid kids. I think that the kids just want the opportunity to talk about their struggles.”

— Rick Padilla, Suicide Prevention Administrator, City and County of Denver (CBS News)

“If you're concerned the child is suicidal, ask them, do they have a plan? Open up that conversation. If you don't, you're missing the opportunity.”

— Rick Padilla, Suicide Prevention Administrator, City and County of Denver (CBS News)

“Be kind to each other. We're all we got.”

— Rick Padilla, Suicide Prevention Administrator, City and County of Denver (CBS News)

What’s next

Padilla plans to continue his advocacy work, pushing for increased mental health resources and support for youth in Denver and beyond.

The takeaway

Padilla's personal tragedy has driven him to become a passionate advocate for youth mental health, underscoring the critical need for greater awareness, access to care, and community support to address the growing crisis of teen suicide.