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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER AS SUICIDE AWARENESS MONTH
WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States; and,
WHEREAS, suicide rates increased 37% between 2000-2018 and decreased 5% between 2018-2020. However, rates returned to their peak in 2022 and have continued to escalate; and,
WHEREAS, 13.2 million people are reported having serious suicidal thoughts, 3.8 million have planned to commit suicide, 1.6 million have attempted suicide, and an estimated 49,000 commit suicide annually; and,
WHEREAS, some groups have disproportionately high rates of suicide, with the highest percentages amongst Native Americans, 27.1%, Whites, 17.6%, African Americans, 9%, Hispanics, 8.1%, and Asians, 6.9%; and,
WHEREAS, it is estimated the suicide rate among males is approximately four times higher than the rate among females. Males make up 50% of the population, but nearly 80% of suicides; and,
WHEREAS, it is estimated individuals ages 85 and older are amongst the highest rates of suicide at 23%, ages 75-84, 20.3%, 65-74,16%, 55-64, 18.7%, 45-54, 19.2%, 35-44, 18%, 25-34, 19%, 15-24, 13.6%, and 10-14, 2.4%; and,
WHEREAS, suicide is the second leading cause of death for African Americans between the ages of 15 and 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, particularly prevalent among Black men, who die by suicide at a rate more than four times that of Black women; and,
WHEREAS, Sherry Molock, PhD, associate professor of psychology at The George Washington University in the District of Columbia, African American children and adolescents face challenges such as exposure to violence and racial discrimination, that may further increase their risk of suicide; and,
WHEREAS, according to Dr. Katherine Keyes, professor of Epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School, there is evidence that suicidal behaviors are increasing among minoritized youth. While the reasons why remain under investigation, it could be that cyberbullying and online racial attacks toward African American female youth may be on the rise and therefore interventions targeting certain stressors are particularly critical for young African American women; and,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, As the nation continues to respond to the short- and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, remaining vigilant in prevention efforts is critical, especially among disproportionately affected populations where longer-term impacts might compound preexisting inequities in suicide risk, Cook County shall explore an increase in the awareness of suicide prevention measures, to remedy the outcry behind suicide; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that greater access to mental health care for all severely impacted by suicide, specifically in schools as an answer to bullying, violence, and trauma, and mobile services for the aging population and S.H.O.P. Talk, an initiative brought to Cook County by Commissioner Tara Stamps be used as an intervention for suicide prevention.
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