Title
To Designate September as National Suicide Prevention Month
Body
WHEREAS, National Suicide Prevention Month is observed each September to bring awareness and remember the lives lost to suicide, acknowledge the millions more who have experienced suicidal thoughts, and the many individuals, families and communities that have been impacted by suicide; and
WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide was responsible for 49,476 deaths in the United States in 2022, which is about one death every 11 minutes; and
WHEREAS, there were over 24,000 years of potential life lost due to suicide among Franklin County residents from 2016 to 2020; and
WHEREAS, in 2020, Franklin County residents ages 45-54 years and 75 years and older had the highest suicide rates; and
WHEREAS, from 2016 to 2020, the suicide rate among non-Hispanic Black residents increased by 75% in Franklin County; and
WHEREAS, from 2016 to 2020, the suicide rate of those ages 15-24 years more than doubled in Franklin County with the suicide rate among residents ages 15-24 years increased from 6.4 to 15.5 deaths per 100,000 residents; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council recognizes that suicide is preventable and encourages residents to learn about suicide prevention, learn the warning signs and risk factors for suicide, how to support someone considering suicide, and familiarize yourself with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.