ENROLLED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 181
BY REPRESENTATIVES BACALA, BARRAS, AND EDMONDS
A RESOLUTION
Designates Tuesday, May 24, 2016, as Suicide Prevention Day in the state of Louisiana.
WHEREAS, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States and the
fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 64; and
WHEREAS, in the United States and in Louisiana, more than twice as many people
die by suicide than die by homicide; and
WHEREAS, in the United States, one person commits suicide every 12.3 minutes;
and
WHEREAS, in the United States, it is estimated that there are twenty-five youth
suicide attempts for every completed youth suicide; and
WHEREAS, in the United States, more than 9.4 million adults report having serious
thoughts of suicide in the past year; 2.7 million adults report making a suicide plan in the
past year, and 1.1 million adults report a suicide attempt in the past year; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that 6.3 million people in the United States have lost a
loved one to suicide; and
WHEREAS, more than 90% of people who take their own lives have an underlying
mental disorder that often was never identified or treated; and
WHEREAS, the stigma associated with mental disorders works against suicide
prevention by discouraging persons at risk for suicide from seeking life-saving help, and the
stigma associated with suicide subjects survivors of suicide loss to further trauma; and
WHEREAS, inasmuch as a great many suicides are preventable, statewide suicide
prevention efforts should be encouraged to the maximum extent possible; and
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WHEREAS, organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
(AFSP) are dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education,
and advocacy, and are committed to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those
impacted by suicide; and
WHEREAS, AFSP urges concerned citizens to recognize suicide as a national and
state health problem, to declare suicide prevention to be a statewide priority, and to
acknowledge that no single suicide prevention program or effort will be appropriate for all
populations or communities; and
WHEREAS, AFSP also urges concerned citizens to encourage initiatives based on
goals contained in the 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, including the
promotion and support of research on suicide prevention, the implementation of research-
informed communication efforts designed to prevent suicide by changing knowledge,
attitudes, and behaviors, and the promotion of suicide prevention as a core component of
health care services.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby designate Tuesday, May 24, 2016, as Suicide
Prevention Day in the state of Louisiana, and also encourages citizens of the state to
recognize suicide as a statewide public health problem and suicide prevention as a statewide
responsibility.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the co-chairs of the Louisiana chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention,
Cynthia Elmer and Jamie Savoy.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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