HomeMy WebLinkAboutR11-113 National Suicide Preventon Week Commissioner -1c-4 S YT moved adoption
of the following Resolution:
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF COLORADO
RESOLUTION NO. 2011- (
Resolution Designating September 4 —10, 2011
as National Suicide Prevention Week
WHEREAS, suicide is the 1 l leading cause of all deaths in the United States;
WHEREAS, suicide is now the 7 leading cause of all deaths in the state of Colorado and the
2nd leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 15 to 24 in Colorado;
WHEREAS, suicide is now the 4 leading cause of all deaths in the county of Eagle and the 2nd
leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 15 to 24 in Eagle County;
WHEREAS, in the United States, one person completes suicide every 16 minutes;
WHEREAS, it is estimated that 5 million people in the United States are survivors of suicide
(those who have lost a loved one to suicide);
WHEREAS, 52% of people who die by suicide use a firearm, and guns stored in the house are
used for suicide 40 times more often than for self - protection;
WHEREAS, the overall suicide rate in our country has only slightly declined from record highs
in recent years, the suicide rate for those 15 =24 years old has more than doubled since the mid- 1950s;
and the suicide rate remains highest for adults 75 years of age and older;
WHEREAS, the stigma associated with mental illness and suicidality works against suicide
prevention by discouraging persons at risk for suicide from seeking life- saving help and further
traumatizes survivors of suicide;
WHEREAS, organizations such as Speak Up Reach Out, Heartbeat, the American Association of
Suicidology and Colorado West Mental Health which are dedicated to reducing the frequency of
suicide attempts and deaths, and the pain of survivors affected by suicides of loved ones, through
educational programs, research projects, intervention services, and bereavement services urge that we:
1. Recognize suicide as a national and state public health problem and declare suicide prevention
to be a statewide priority;
2. Acknowledge that no single suicide prevention program or effort will be appropriate for all
populations or communities;
3. Encourage initiatives based on the goals contained in the National Strategy for Suicide
Prevention:
a. Promote awareness that suicide is a public health problem that is preventable.
b. Develop broad -based support for suicide prevention.
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c. Develop and implement strategies to reduce the stigma associated with being a
consumer of mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention services.
d. Develop and implement community -based suicide prevention programs.
e. Develop and implement community -based bereavement support services.
f. Promote efforts to reduce access to lethal means and methods of self -harm.
g. Implement training for the recognition of at -risk behavior and for the delivery of
effective treatment.
h. Develop and promote effective clinical and professional practices.
i. Increase access to, and community linkages with, mental health and substance abuse
services.
j. Improve reporting and portrayals of suicidal behavior, mental illness, and substance
abuse in the entertainment and news media.
k. Promote and support research on suicide and suicide prevention.
1. Improve and expand surveillance systems for suicide behavior.
WHEREAS, a great many suicides are preventable;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of County Commissioners hereby
designates September 4 through September 10, 2011 as "National Suicide Prevention Week" in the
county of Eagle in the Sate of Colorado.
MOVED, READ AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of the County of
Eagle, State of Colorado, at its regular meeting held the 6 day of September, 2011.
COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF
GLe 1 LORADO, by'' . nd Through Its
ATTEST: 10 RD OF CO f T COMMISSIONERS
111, o.� . � ��::. - 4, By:
�1 t _
imoni, c ot o.R 4 J• .vney
Clerk to the Board of C r an
County Commissioners
Peter F. Runyon
Commissioner
Sara J. Fisher
Commissioner
Commissioner V "�-'i � '(Q seconded adoption of the foregoing resolution. The roll having been
called, the vote was as follows:
Commissioner Stavney h
Commissioner Runyon ti
Commissioner Fisher
This Resolution passed by /()vote of the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Eagle,
State of Colorado.
