[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 339 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







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 submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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>