PRINTER'S NO. 1171
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
186
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY AUMENT, LEACH, EICHELBERGER, GREENLEAF, MARTIN,
BARTOLOTTA, BROOKS, DINNIMAN, ARGALL, BROWNE, YUDICHAK,
FARNESE, RESCHENTHALER, BREWSTER, SCAVELLO, MENSCH,
LANGERHOLC, SABATINA, RAFFERTY, COSTA, FOLMER AND HUGHES,
SEPTEMBER 19, 2017
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of September 2017 as "Veteran Suicide
Prevention and Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Current studies confirm a high suicide rate among
veterans; and
WHEREAS, Though veterans make up less than 9% of the United
States population, more than 7,400 veterans took their own lives
in 2014, accounting for 18% of all suicides in America; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, an average of 20 veterans died from suicide
each day; and
WHEREAS, Roughly 65% of all veteran suicides in 2014 were
individuals 50 years of age or older; and
WHEREAS, Among male veterans, the largest number of lives
lost to suicide occurs in middle-aged males 50 to 69 years of
age, while the highest rates of suicide are among the youngest
males 18 to 29 years of age; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, the rate of suicide among veteran males was
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37 per 100,000, and since 2001, the age-adjusted rate of suicide
among veteran males has increased by 30.5%; and
WHEREAS, Among veteran females, the largest number of lives
lost to suicide occurs in middle-aged females 40 to 59 years of
age, but the highest rate occurs among the youngest female
veterans 18 to 29 years of age; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, the rate of suicide among veteran females
was 18.9 per 100,000, and since 2001, the age-adjusted rate of
suicide among veteran females has dramatically increased by
85.2%; and
WHEREAS, After adjusting for differences in age and gender,
risk for suicide was 21% higher among veterans when compared
with civilian adults; and
WHEREAS, Officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs have
responded to the veteran suicide crisis by boosting the
department's mental health personnel and suicide hotline staff
in recent years; and
WHEREAS, Each Veterans' Administration facility has been
asked to commit to "Be There" for veterans through a number of
enhanced methods, including a "no wrong door" philosophy for
suicide prevention to ensure that every Veterans' Administration
employee assists veterans in need and establishes buddy systems
so veterans have someone to reach out to when needed; and
WHEREAS, Communities, peers, close associates and the media
are critical in preventing death by suicide; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of September
2017 as "Veteran Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate urge civilians to help prevent
veteran suicide by learning about the warning signs of
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depression and crisis; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate urge the residents of this
Commonwealth to "Be There" for our veterans and learn about ways
to support veterans in need; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate fully support the bipartisan
actions of the Congress of the United States and the Department
of Veterans Affairs as they continue to work together to improve
the needed support for our veterans; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in support of
the department's continued efforts to prevent military suicides.
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