BILL ANALYSIS �
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SCR 71
Author: Torres (D), et al.
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SUBJECT : Suicide Prevention Week in California
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution proclaims the week of September 8,
2013, through September 14, 2013, as Suicide Prevention Week in
California.
ANALYSIS : This resolution makes the following legislative
findings:
1. California recognizes suicide as a public health problem and
suicide prevention as a statewide responsibility and
designating the second week of September as "Suicide
Prevention Week in California" would overlap with World
Suicide Prevention Day, which occurs on September 10, 2013,
and is recognized internationally and supported by the World
Health Organization.
2. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of all deaths in the
United States and the 44th leading cause of all deaths in
California and on average, 105 people commit suicide every
day in the U.S., which equals approximately one person every
14.2 minutes.
3. In the U.S., rates of suicide are highest among people from
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45 to 54 years of age, and rates of suicide among youth who
are from 15 to 24 years of age, have increased more than 200%
in the last 50 years.
4. Each day, an estimated 22 veterans in the U.S. commit
suicide, which equals approximately one veteran every 65
minutes.
5. A great many suicides are preventable and most suicidal
people display warning signals of their intentions; however,
others are often unaware of these signals or unsure what to
do about them.
6. The State of California established the Department of Health
Care Services-Suicide Prevention Program (SPP), published the
California Strategic Plan on Suicide Prevention in 2008, and
has supported multiple statewide and local projects launched
under the Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63).
7. The State of California recognizes the efforts of
organizations such as the American Association of Suicidology
that are dedicated to reducing the frequency of suicide
attempts and deaths and the pain of survivors of suicide
through educational programs, research programs, intervention
services, and bereavement services.
This resolution proclaims the week of September 8, 2013, through
September 14, 2013, as Suicide Prevention Week in California and
a time to acknowledge the tragic loss of individuals who have
committed suicide and to commemorate the actions of
organizations and individuals working to prevent suicide and
raise awareness of suicide as a public health issue.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
JG:k 8/29/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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