[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 339 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 339

   Designating November 18, 2000, as ``National Survivors of Suicide 
                                 Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 21, 2000

   Mr. Reid (for himself, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Edwards, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. 
 Jeffords, Mr. Warner, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Biden, 
  Mr. Abraham, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Inouye, Mr. 
 Johnson, Mr. Miller, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Wellstone, Mr. 
Ashcroft, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Robb, Mr. Roth, Mr. Levin, Mr. Reed, Mr. 
 Dodd, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Helms, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Dorgan, 
  Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Specter, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Bennett, Mr. 
    Burns, Mr. Campbell, Ms. Collins, Mr. Craig, Mr. Domenici, Mr. 
Grassley, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Nickles, Mr. Shelby, 
   Mr. Akaka, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Inhofe) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

            October 24 (legislative day, September 22), 2000

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Designating November 18, 2000, as ``National Survivors of Suicide 
                                 Day''.

Whereas the 105th Congress, in Senate Resolution 84 and House Resolution 212, 
        recognized suicide as a national problem and suicide prevention as a 
        national priority;
Whereas the Surgeon General has publicly recognized suicide as a public health 
        problem;
Whereas the resolutions of the 105th Congress called for a collaboration between 
        public and private organizations and individuals concerned with suicide;
Whereas in the United States, more than 30,000 people take their own lives each 
        year;
Whereas suicide is the 8th leading cause of death in the United States and the 
        3rd major cause of death among young people aged 15 through 19;
Whereas the suicide rate among young people has more than tripled in the last 4 
        decades, a fact that is a tragedy in itself and a source of devastation 
        to millions of family members and loved ones;
Whereas every year in the United States, hundreds of thousands of people become 
        suicide survivors (people that have lost a loved one to suicide), and 
        there are approximately 8,000,000 suicide survivors in the United States 
        today;
Whereas society still needlessly stigmatizes both the people that take their own 
        lives and suicide survivors;
Whereas there is a need for greater outreach to suicide survivors because, all 
        too often, they are left alone to grieve;
Whereas suicide survivors are often helped to rebuild their lives through a 
        network of support with fellow survivors;
Whereas suicide survivors play an essential role in educating communities about 
        the risks of suicide and the need to develop suicide prevention 
        strategies; and
Whereas suicide survivors contribute to suicide prevention research by providing 
        essential information about the environmental and genetic backgrounds of 
        the deceased: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1)(A) designates November 18, 2000, as ``National 
        Survivors of Suicide Day''; and
            (B) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling on Federal, State, and local administrators and the 
        people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate 
        programs, ceremonies, and activities;
            (2) encourages the involvement of suicide survivors in 
        healing activities and prevention programs;
            (3) acknowledges that suicide survivors face distinct 
        obstacles in their grieving;
            (4) recognizes that suicide survivors can be a source of 
        support and strength to each other;
            (5) recognizes that suicide survivors have played a leading 
        role in organizations dedicated to reducing suicide through 
        research, education, and treatment programs; and
            (6) acknowledges the efforts of suicide survivors in their 
        prevention, education, and advocacy activities to eliminate 
        stigma and to reduce the incidence of suicide.
                                 <all>