Proclaiming that The City of Somerville recognizes the week of September 4 - 10, 2022 as National Suicide Prevention Week.

Proclamation Whereas: suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the United States, the 3rd leading cause of death among children and teens ages 10-19 and the 2nd leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 20 to 34; and Whereas: in the United States over 45,000 people died by suicide in 2020 (Centers for Disease Control); and Whereas: suicide rates have increased 30% over the last two decades, with suicide rates finally decreasing 2.1% between 2018 and 2019 and decreasing 2.9% between 2019 and 2020; Whereas: it is estimated that in 2020, there were 1.2 million suicide attempts; and Whereas: in 2020, suicide was the 15th leading cause of death in Massachusetts (Centers for Disease Control); and Whereas: over 90% of the people who die by suicide have a diagnosable and treatable mental health condition, although often that condition was not recognized or treated; and Whereas: , organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention are dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, through research, education, advocacy, and resources for those who have lost someone to suicide or who struggle, and urge that we: 1. Recognize suicide as a preventable national and state public health problem and declare suicide prevention to be a priority. 2. Acknowledge that no single suicide prevention program or effort will be appropriate for all populations or communities. 3. Address the disparity in access to mental healthcare for underserved and underrepresented groups, and advocate for ending these disparities. 4. Fund new suicide research to support culturally-informed and evidence-based mental health care and services. Encourage initiatives based on the goals contained in the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and the 2022 Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Plan. 5. Promote awareness that there is no single cause for suicide, and that suicide most often occurs when stressors exceed the coping abilities of someone struggling with a mental health condition. 6. Develop and implement strategies to improve and increase access to quality mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention services and programs. 7. Continue advocacy to ensure we can reimagine a comprehensive suicide, mental health, and substance use crisis response system that builds on the historic new 988 number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Now therefore be it known to all those present that the Mayor of the City of Somerville respectfully proclaims September 4 - 10, 2022 as “National Suicide Prevention Week” in Somerville. Proclaimed on this 25th day of August, 2022 by Katjana Ballantyne Mayor