Suicide Prevention Week

Proclamation

By the Governor of Alabama

WHEREAS, in the United States, one person dies by suicide every 13 minutes, and every day over 100 Americans take their own lives, with 42,773 deaths by suicide in our country during 2014; and

WHEREAS, in our country, suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15- through 24-year-olds, and is the 10th leading cause of death for people of all ages; and

WHEREAS, suicide is the sixth leading cause of death among white males in Alabama and suicide rates are particularly high among white males ages 85 and older; and

WHEREAS, each person’s death by suicide intimately affects at least six other people, with over 200,000 newly bereaved each year; and

WHEREAS, Alabama has shown a pattern of higher rates of suicide than the U.S. national average since 1990, and in 2013, 719 Alabamians died by suicide; and

WHEREAS, many of those people who died never received effective behavioral health services, for many reasons including the difficulty of accessing services by health care providers trained in best practices to reduce suicide risk, the stigma of using behavioral health treatment, and the stigma associated with losing a loved one to suicide; and

WHEREAS, protective factors helping prevent suicide include social support from a network of family, friends, faith-based organizations, relationships and reduced access to lethal means; and

WHEREAS, we recognize suicide as a significant public health problem in Alabama and declare suicide prevention a statewide priority and acknowledge that no single suicide prevention effort will be sufficient or appropriate for all populations or communities; and

WHEREAS, the Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition and partners in the Alabama Department of Public Health-Social Work Division and Center for Emergency Preparedness are hosting a conference and training on September 7, 2016, in Montgomery:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim September 5th, through September 11th, 2016, as

Suicide Prevention Week

in the State of Alabama.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of the Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 31st day of August 2016.

Robert Bentley

Governor