[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20976]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING SEPTEMBER AS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH

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                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 21, 2005

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize suicide as a 
public health problem, and suicide prevention as a community 
responsibility. The State of California has recognized September as 
``Suicide Prevention Month.'' This is in support and recognition of the 
National and International Suicide Prevention Week.
  It remains essential to remember that suicide is the 11th leading 
cause of all deaths in the United States and the 3rd leading cause of 
death among people from the ages of 15 to 24. It is also the 10th 
leading cause of all deaths and the number one cause of all injury 
deaths in the State of California. Moreover, suicide remains the 9th 
leading cause of all deaths and the 2nd leading cause of all injury 
deaths in Santa Barbara County. Within the United States, one person 
completes suicide every 17 minutes; and it is estimated that 4.47 
million people in the United States are survivors of suicide (those who 
have lost a loved one to suicide).
  In addition, guns stored in the house are used for suicide 40 times 
more often than for self-protection and 54 percent of people who die by 
suicide use a firearm. Regarding mental illness, the stigma associated 
with mental illness works against suicide prevention by discouraging 
persons at risk for suicide from seeking life-saving help and further 
traumatizes survivors of suicide. Finally, we must remember that a 
great many suicides are preventable, and can be reduced through 
awareness, education and treatment.
  I therefore commend The Glendon Association, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) 
organization based in Santa Barbara, California whose mission is to 
save lives and help people create more meaningful lives by addressing 
the social problems of suicide, violence, child abuse and troubled 
interpersonal relationships. The Glendon Association accomplishes this 
through community outreach, research, education and training within the 
local community, the State of California, nationally and 
internationally. I recognize the important work they do through their 
Annual Suicide Prevention Forums which in this, their 11th year, 
include three free community programs, open to the public, held in 
Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo, California.

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