WHEREAS, California recognizes suicide as a public health problem and suicide prevention as a statewide responsibility; and
WHEREAS, Designating the second week of September as “Suicide Prevention Week in California” would overlap with World Suicide Prevention Day, which occurs on September 10, 2024, and is recognized internationally and supported by the World Health Organization; and
WHEREAS, Suicide is the 12th leading cause of all deaths in the United States and the 14th leading cause of all deaths in California; and
WHEREAS, In the United States, on average, a person commits suicide every 11 minutes, which equates to around 130 suicides daily. The number of suicide deaths notably increased by about 2.6 percent in 2022, rising from 48,183 in 2021 to an
estimated 49,449; and
WHEREAS, In the United States, the highest suicide rates are among individuals 45 to 54 years of age, inclusive. Suicide rates among youths 15 to 24 years of age, inclusive, have risen over 200 percent in the past five decades. Additionally, in 2021, suicide death rates were particularly high among American Indian and Alaska Native people, males, and individuals living in rural areas; and
WHEREAS, Each day, an estimated 17 veterans in the United States commit suicide, which translates to approximately one veteran every 85 minutes. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for veterans 18 to 44 years of age, inclusive. In California alone, 461 veterans committed suicide in 2021; and
WHEREAS, There are 5,400,000 people in the United States, known as survivors of suicide, who have lost a loved one to suicide; and
WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic heightened risk factors linked to suicidal behavior such as deteriorating mental health, substance abuse, and occupational or economic stress; and
WHEREAS, A significant number of suicides are preventable. Often, individuals contemplating suicide exhibit warning signs, but these signals frequently go unnoticed or unaddressed due to a lack of awareness or certainty on how to respond; and
WHEREAS, The stigma associated with mental illness and suicide works against suicide prevention by discouraging persons at risk for suicide from seeking lifesaving help and further traumatizes survivors of suicide; and
WHEREAS, Launched on July 16, 2022, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline serves as an invaluable resource for those grappling with emotional turmoil or suicidal crises. Trained crisis counselors offer confidential
support and resources 24 hours a day, seven days a week through this lifeline. They operate from over 200 local centers across the United States, providing a beacon of hope in times of distress; and
WHEREAS, The State of California established the Public Health Comprehensive 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 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election); and
WHEREAS, 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; and
WHEREAS, Suicide Prevention Week in California is 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; now, therefore, be it