THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN, ALLOWAY, ARGALL, BAKER, BOSCOLA, COSTA, ERICKSON, FERLO, FONTANA, GREENLEAF, HUGHES, KASUNIC, KITCHEN, O'PAKE, ORIE, PILEGGI, RAFFERTY, STACK, STOUT, TARTAGLIONE, WARD, WASHINGTON, M. WHITE AND MELLOW, JULY 28, 2009

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JULY 28, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the week of September 6 through 13, 2009, as

"Suicide Prevention Week" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Suicide is the 11th leading cause of all deaths in

the United States and the 4th leading cause of death among

people 18 to 65 years of age; and

WHEREAS, In 2005 more than 1,400 Pennsylvanians, or an

average of more than three people each day, died by suicide,

including more than 160 Pennsylvanians 15 to 24 years of age;

and

WHEREAS, More people are hospitalized or treated and released

as a result of a suicide attempt than are fatally injured; and

WHEREAS, It is important to note that suicide rates increase

with age and are very high among people 65 years of age and

older, particularly people who are isolated and suffering from a

physical illness; and

WHEREAS, The causes of suicide are complex and multifaceted,

involving psychological, biological and sociological factors;

and

WHEREAS, Ninety percent of all people who die by suicide have

a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of death, most

commonly a depressive or substance abuse disorder; and

WHEREAS, The stigma associated with mental illness

discourages at-risk persons from seeking lifesaving help and

further traumatizes survivors of suicide; and

WHEREAS, Suicide prevention opportunities continue to

increase due to advances in clinical research on the diagnosis

and effective treatment of mental illness, advances in

neuroscience and community-based suicide prevention initiatives;

and

WHEREAS, Many suicides are preventable; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of September 6

through 13, 2009, as "Suicide Prevention Week" in Pennsylvania

and urge all residents of this Commonwealth to support the

volunteer agencies that work to educate the public on the

symptoms and risk factors associated with suicide in order to

prevent suicides and thus reduce the number of suicides in this

Commonwealth.