[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 171 (Saturday, November 22, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2392]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE DAY

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                           HON. SUE W. KELLY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 21, 2003

  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to an issue 
that is too often overlooked in our society: the problem of suicide
  According to the Centers for Disease Control, a suicide occurs once 
every 18 minutes. In the year 2000, we lost 29,350 people to suicide. 
It is the third leading killer of children ages 10 to 14 in the U.S., 
causing 7.2 percent of the total deaths in that age group. For children 
ages 15 to 19, the percentage jumps to 12 percent. When most people are 
starting a family and beginning their careers, between the ages of 25 
and 34, suicide is the number two cause of death.
  Too often suicide has been stigmatized as a weakness or character 
flaw. Instead, suicide must be viewed as it truly is: a symptom of 
mental illness. Viewing suicide as such allows us to recognize the 
warning signs (including depression, reckless behavior, substance 
abuse, and a drastic change in attitude and behavior) and helps 
encourage people to seek help.
  While the number of males who commit suicide is about four times 
higher than the number of females, it is important that we pay special 
attention to suicide attempts among females, especially teenage girls. 
It is estimated that women attempt suicide at a three-to-one margin. In 
the case of teenage girls, these attempts are often a cry for help at a 
very confusing time in their lives.
  We lose one person to suicide every 18 minutes. To put this in 
perspective, this equates to nearly 13,000 more deaths per year than 
homicide. We must do more to educate people about suicide, thereby 
helping to prevent it. For this reason I am sponsoring a Concurrent 
Resolution in support of National Survivors of Suicide Day and the 
ideals it upholds. This resolution recognizes and praises the work that 
numerous public and private sector groups carry out to raise awareness 
about suicide and provide treatment for depression.

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