SCR 71, as introduced, Torres. Suicide Prevention Week in California.
This measure would proclaim the week of September 8, 2013, through September 14, 2013, as Suicide Prevention Week in California.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, California recognizes suicide as a public health
2problem and suicide prevention as a statewide responsibility; and
3WHEREAS, Designating the second week of September as
4“Suicide Prevention Week in California” would overlap with World
5Suicide Prevention Day, which occurs on September 10, 2013,
6and is recognized internationally and supported by the World
7Health Organization; and
8WHEREAS, Suicide is the 10th leading cause of all deaths in
9the United States and the 44th leading cause of all deaths in
10California; and
11WHEREAS, On average, 105 people commit suicide every day
12in the United States, which equals approximately one person every
1314.2 minutes; and
14WHEREAS, In the United States, rates of suicide are highest
15among people from 45 to 54 years of age, and rates of suicide
P2 1among youth who are from 15 to 24 years of age, have increased
2more than 200 percent in the last 50 years; and
3WHEREAS, Each day, an estimated 22 veterans in the United
4States commit suicide, which equals approximately one veteran
5every 65 minutes; and
6WHEREAS, It is estimated that there are 4.78 million people
7in the United States, known as survivors of suicide, who have lost
8a loved one to suicide; and
9WHEREAS, A great many suicides are preventable; and
10WHEREAS, Most suicidal people display warning signals of
11their intentions; however, others are often unaware of these signals
12or unsure what to do about them; and
13WHEREAS, The stigma associated with mental illness and
14suicide works against suicide prevention by discouraging persons
15at risk for suicide from seeking lifesaving help and further
16traumatizes survivors of suicide; and
17WHEREAS, The State of California established the State
18Department of Health Care Services-Suicide Prevention Program
19(SPP), published the California Strategic Plan on Suicide
20Prevention in 2008, and has supported multiple statewide and local
21projects launched under the Mental Health Services Act
22(Proposition 63); and
23WHEREAS, The State of California recognizes the efforts of
24organizations such as the American Association of Suicidology
25that are dedicated to reducing the frequency of suicide attempts
26and deaths and the pain of survivors of suicide through educational
27programs, research programs, intervention services, and
28bereavement services; and
29WHEREAS, Suicide Prevention Week in California is a time
30to acknowledge the tragic loss of individuals who have committed
31suicide and to commemorate the actions of organizations and
32individuals working to prevent suicide and raise awareness of
33suicide as a public health issue; now, therefore, be it
34Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
35thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims the
36week of September 8, 2013, through September 14, 2013, as
37“Suicide Prevention Week in California,” and be it further
P3 1Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
2this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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