Bill Text: PA SR157 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Designating the week of September 6 through 13, 2009, as "Suicide Prevention Week" in Pennsylvania.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2009-07-28 - Introduced and adopted [SR157 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-SR157-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 1356
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 157 Session of2009
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.
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