HLS 16RS-4511 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 181
BY REPRESENTATIVES BACALA, BARRAS, AND EDMONDS
SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Designates Tuesday, May 24, 2016, as Suicide
Prevention Day in the state
1 A RESOLUTION
2Designates Tuesday, May 24, 2016, as Suicide Prevention Day in the state of Louisiana.
3 WHEREAS, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States and the
4fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 64; and
5 WHEREAS, in the United States and in Louisiana, more than twice as many people
6die by suicide than die by homicide; and
7 WHEREAS, in the United States, one person commits suicide every 12.3 minutes;
8and
9 WHEREAS, in the United States, it is estimated that there are twenty-five youth
10suicide attempts for every completed youth suicide; and
11 WHEREAS, in the United States, more than 9.4 million adults report having serious
12thoughts of suicide in the past year; 2.7 million adults report making a suicide plan in the
13past year, and 1.1 million adults report a suicide attempt in the past year; and
14 WHEREAS, it is estimated that 6.3 million people in the United States have lost a
15loved one to suicide; and
16 WHEREAS, more than 90% of people who take their own lives have an underlying
17mental disorder that often was never identified or treated; and
18 WHEREAS, the stigma associated with mental disorders works against suicide
19prevention by discouraging persons at risk for suicide from seeking life-saving help, and the
20stigma associated with suicide subjects survivors of suicide loss to further trauma; and
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HR NO. 181
1 WHEREAS, inasmuch as a great many suicides are preventable, statewide suicide
2prevention efforts should be encouraged to the maximum extent possible; and
3 WHEREAS, organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
4(AFSP) are dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education,
5and advocacy, and are committed to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those
6impacted by suicide; and
7 WHEREAS, AFSP urges concerned citizens to recognize suicide as a national and
8state health problem, to declare suicide prevention to be a statewide priority, and to
9acknowledge that no single suicide prevention program or effort will be appropriate for all
10populations or communities; and
11 WHEREAS, AFSP also urges concerned citizens to encourage initiatives based on
12goals contained in the 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, including the
13promotion and support of research on suicide prevention, the implementation of research-
14informed communication efforts designed to prevent suicide by changing knowledge,
15attitudes, and behaviors, and the promotion of suicide prevention as a core component of
16health care services.
17 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
18Legislature of Louisiana does hereby designate Tuesday, May 24, 2016, as Suicide
19Prevention Day in the state of Louisiana, and also encourages citizens of the state to
20recognize suicide as a statewide public health problem and suicide prevention as a statewide
21responsibility.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
23to the co-chairs of the Louisiana chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention,
24Cynthia Elmer and Jamie Savoy.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 181 Original 2016 Regular Session Bacala
Designates Tuesday, May 24, 2016, as Suicide Prevention Day in the state of La.
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