National Suicide Prevention Week


WHEREAS, suicide is a major public health concern; and

WHEREAS, nearly 45,000 people die by suicide each year in the United States and suicide is the 10th leading cause of death overall; and

WHEREAS, in 2016, Virginia experienced 1,166 deaths by suicide, making suicide the 11th leading cause of death in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, suicide is complicated and tragic; there are almost always multiple contributing factors; and



WHEREAS, community organizations and grass-roots support are vital to continuing the fight against suicide and the loss of lives; and


NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize September 9-15, 2018, as NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.