Res. No. 1229-A
Resolution recognizing September as Suicide Awareness Month in New York City and calling upon government agencies and non-governmental organizations to focus on teen suicide prevention.
By Council Members Levin, Oddo, Arroyo, Comrie, Crowley, Dromm, Eugene, Ferreras, James, Koo, Koppell, Lander, Recchia, Rose, Williams, Wills, Mark-Viverito, Palma, Rivera, Fidler, Brewer, Sanders Jr., Koslowitz, Rodriguez, Vacca, Jackson, Foster, Nelson, Van Bramer, Dickens, Gennaro, Lappin, Barron and Halloran
Whereas, According to the American Association of Suicidology, in 2008, someone died from suicide every fifteen minutes, and there were eleven youth suicides daily in the United States; and
Whereas, Each year approximately 475 New Yorkers commit suicide; and
Whereas, In 2009, 10% of New York City public high school students reported attempting suicide in the past year, and 3% reported an attempt that required medical care; and
Whereas, Of the New York City teens who reported attempting suicide, 61% reported feeling sadness every day for two weeks or more in the last year, 27% reported having been bullied online in the last year, and 25% reported having been physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the last 12 months; and
Whereas, the rate of attempted suicide among LGBTQ teens is particularly high, according to a 2008 New York City Vital Signs Report which found that 31% of LGBTQ teens attempted suicide in the previous year; and
Whereas, According to a 2009 CDC survey, attempted suicide is also a significant problem in the Latina community, with 15% of New York City Latina teens attempting suicide that year, and
Whereas, In 2010, 56 people between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four committed suicide in New York City, making suicide the third leading cause of death for people in this age bracket; and
Whereas, According to the New York State Office of Mental Health, 90 percent of teens who die by suicide have a diagnosed mental disorder at the time of their death, with the most common being mood disorder, conduct disorder, and alcohol or drug abuse; and
Whereas, According to the New York State Office of Mental Health's Suicide Prevention Initiative, depression and other mental illnesses begin in the teen years, and early treatment can have a real impact on disease progression; and
Whereas, The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's recommendations on how to reduce suicide risk state that community organizations should promote seeking help, dispel misconceptions about mental illnesses, and reduce social isolation among those struggling with depression; and
Whereas, Health experts assert that there are many warning signs that someone is contemplating suicide, including depression, talking or writing about dying, talking about feeling hopeless, withdrawal, taking part in risky behavior, seeking access to pills or weapons, and excessive rage; and
Whereas, According to The Samaritans of New York, a non-profit organization that provides support to individuals in crisis, the most effective way to prevent suicide is to recognize these warning signs and take them seriously, as approximately 75 percent of people who attempt suicide do something to let others know of their intentions before they act; and
Whereas, Suicide prevention methods include enhancing the support systems for vulnerable youth, parent education programs, post-attempt treatment programs, and school re-entry guidelines for students who have attempted suicide; and
Whereas, Recognition of the month of September as suicide awareness month may serve as a springboard for increasing outreach efforts; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York recognizes September as Suicide Awareness Month in New York City and calls upon government agencies and non-governmental organizations to focus on teen suicide prevention.
LS# 3144
MB/GP/JW
9/21/12