PRINTER'S NO. 4235
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
965
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY O'MARA, BENNINGHOFF, SCHMITT, BIZZARRO, SCHLEGEL
CULVER, HILL-EVANS, KOSIEROWSKI, BURNS, WILLIAMS, MADDEN,
BROWN, JOZWIAK, NEILSON, FREEMAN, SAMUELSON, MIZGORSKI,
LONGIETTI, SAPPEY, McNEILL, RYAN, VITALI, ULLMAN, KORTZ,
DAVANZO, SCHLOSSBERG, JONES, SCHROEDER, KINSEY, BROOKS,
SONNEY, DONATUCCI, SANCHEZ, DAVIDSON, MILLARD, YOUNGBLOOD,
MALAGARI, WARREN, READSHAW, KENYATTA, MACKENZIE, KRUEGER,
HOWARD, MURT, SCHWEYER, DRISCOLL, T. DAVIS, DEASY, ZABEL,
HANBIDGE, STRUZZI, THOMAS, KIM, McCARTER, DALEY, McCLINTON,
MERSKI, PASHINSKI, ROZZI, HENNESSEY, INNAMORATO, STEPHENS,
SHUSTERMAN, B. MILLER, GAYDOS, HOHENSTEIN, CIRESI AND
DELLOSO, AUGUST 7, 2020
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
AUGUST 7, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of September 2020 as "National Suicide
Prevention Awareness Month" and September 10, 2020, as "World
Suicide Prevention Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Every year, 800,000 people take their own lives,
which represents one person dying from suicide every 40 seconds;
and
WHEREAS, Each year, 16 million people will attempt suicide,
and countless more people will be impacted as families,
communities and entire countries grapple with the long-term
effects of suicide; and
WHEREAS, Suicide is a complex and not yet fully understood
phenomenon that may be determined by multifaceted interactions
of a broad range of factors, including, but not limited to,
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neurobiology, personal and family history, stressful events and
sociocultural environment; and
WHEREAS, Some known risk factors are periods of
socioeconomic, family and individual crisis situations, such as
financial problems, relationship break-ups, acts of persecution
and discrimination, isolation, substance abuse disorders and
feelings of depression, burnout or anxiety, chronic pain or
illness; and
WHEREAS, Suicide is a serious public health problem that is
preventable with timely, evidence-based and often low-cost
interventions; and
WHEREAS, Reducing suicide rates requires a response to known
psychosocial, cultural and environmental risk factors; and
WHEREAS, Intervention measures can be taken at the
population, subpopulation or individual level and may include
behavioral health services, school-based programs, early
identification, pharmacological treatment, cognitive behavioral
therapy and psychosocial support; and
WHEREAS, Suicide prevention efforts require coordination and
collaboration among multiple sectors of society, including the
sectors of health, education, labor, business, agriculture,
justice, law, government and the media; and
WHEREAS, Suicide prevention is an achievable global public
health goal that should remain a priority at the national and
international levels; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives recognizes that it is
imperative to raise awareness that suicide is preventable; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives affirms that the
Commonwealth must make every effort to improve education and
awareness and decrease the stigmatization relating to suicide;
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therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of September 2020 as "National Suicide Prevention
Awareness Month" and September 10, 2020, as "World Suicide
Prevention Day" in Pennsylvania.
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