Title
Recognizing September as Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month in the City of Philadelphia, and affirming the need for suicide prevention awareness and robust mental health services.
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WHEREAS, National Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month is an annual campaign to raise awareness about suicide warning signs, to advocate for suicide prevention services, to reduce the stigma associated with suicide, and to support those who have attempted suicide; and
WHEREAS, Suicide is an extremely complex, but preventable, health issue that requires compassion, empathy, trust, understanding, and access to professional services; and
WHEREAS, According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 48,433 Americans died by suicide in 2018 and the number is continuing to rise, making it the 10th leading causes of death in the nation overall; and
WHEREAS, Placing too much emphasis on hospitalizations can alienate individuals seeking support. When someone expresses suicidal thought, hospitalization should only be utilized when a crisis cannot be managed through community supports. Alternative methods to hospitalization must be explored in order to intervene earlier, prevent suicide attempts, decrease the stigma surrounding suicidality, and increase feelings of safety; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia is taking active steps to combat suicide. The Philadelphia Suicide Prevention Task Force, spearheaded by the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, is harnessing innovative and person-centered approaches to achieve its goal of zero suicides in our City; and
WHEREAS, According to the Philadelphia Suicide Prevention Task Force, there are an average of three deaths by suicides each week in Philadelphia, accounting for 147 lives in 2019; and
WHEREAS, Although the City of Philadelphia has a lower mortality rate than the national rate of deaths by suicide, one suicide is one too many; and
WHEREAS, Suicide prevention is espe...
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