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PRINTER'S NO. 2842
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
608
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY BIZZARRO, SONNEY, BARRAR, HILL-EVANS, JONES,
KOSIEROWSKI, FREEMAN, MILLARD, DELLOSO, THOMAS, LONGIETTI,
O'NEAL, RYAN, KINSEY, SHUSTERMAN, McNEILL, ROTHMAN, MIHALEK,
MACKENZIE, BURNS, T. DAVIS, JAMES, SCHLOSSBERG, DiGIROLAMO,
BERNSTINE, SANCHEZ, COX, KORTZ, CIRESI, DAY, WILLIAMS, BROWN,
MURT, MENTZER, KENYATTA, READSHAW, STRUZZI, McCLINTON,
B. MILLER, STAATS, JOZWIAK AND DEASY, NOVEMBER 14, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, NOVEMBER 14, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating November 22, 2019, as "Veterans Suicide Prevention
and Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, On average, 22 veterans of the United States Armed
Forces commit suicide each day; and
WHEREAS, Of the 22 veterans who commit suicide each day, 14
of the suicides are committed by veterans who do not seek help
from the Veterans Health Administration; and
WHEREAS, Suicide rates among veterans are higher than the
general population, especially among women; and
WHEREAS, The majority of suicides committed by veterans are
caused by drug overdoses or poisoning; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs and
the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs of the
Commonwealth offer programs and work with outside organizations
to provide mental health care to our veterans; and
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WHEREAS, Each Veterans Health Administration facility has
suicide prevention coordinators onsite to support veterans in
times of crisis; and
WHEREAS, As citizens of this Commonwealth, we all need to be
more vigilant of the warning signs that a veteran may be
suicidal, including, but not limited to, feelings of
hopelessness, anxiety, agitation and mood swings; and
WHEREAS, Warning signs that require immediate attention
include any of the following:
(1) Thinking about hurting or killing oneself.
(2) Looking for ways to die.
(3) Talking about death, dying or suicide.
(4) Self-destructive or risk-taking behavior, especially
when the behavior includes drugs, alcohol or weapons;
and
WHEREAS, Veterans, family members and care providers can
initiate a free and confidential conversation with a Veterans
Health Administration provider by calling the Veterans Crisis
Line at 1-800-273-8255; and
WHEREAS, Veterans or family members of veterans can chat
online with a Veterans Health Administration provider via the
publicly accessible Internet website
veteranscrisisline.net/chat; and
WHEREAS, Veterans or family members of veterans can send a
text message to 838255 to connect to a Veterans Health
Administration provider; and
WHEREAS, We all need to do our part to help those who served
our nation so bravely in the United States Armed Forces;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
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November 22, 2019, as "Veterans Suicide Prevention and Awareness
Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That on November 22, 2019, we honor the memories of
our 22 fallen veterans who leave us each day.
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