Governor Proclaims National Suicide Prevention Week 2023

WHEREAS, suicide is a statewide and national public health crisis impacting people of all ages across all socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds; 1,476 people ages 10 and older died by suicide in North Carolina in 2022, making it the ninth leading cause of death in our state, and the second leading cause of death for those ages 10-40; and

WHEREAS, suicide has a substantial impact on North Carolina; for every death by suicide in North Carolina in 2022, there were two hospitalizations and eight emergency department visits for self-inflicted injury, comprising 2,912 hospitalizations and 11,930 emergency department visits; and

WHEREAS, suicide is the 12^th leading cause of death in the United States, the third leading cause of death among teens and young adults ages 15 to 24, and the third leading cause of death among children ages 10 to 14 and individuals between the ages of 25 to 34; and

WHEREAS, suicide is preventable, and it is imperative to raise more awareness and for all people to support services available in their respective communities to prevent suicide, and to encourage all those in need to access evidence-informed services that address suicide, mental health, and substance use disorder; and

WHEREAS, public awareness of the warning signs and support networks, including the three-digit 988 number for the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline available through call/text to everyone, is essential to continue lowering the rates of suicide; and

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina encourages people to recognize that there is no single cause of suicide and no single suicide prevention program or effort that will be appropriate for all populations and communities; initiatives based on the goals detailed in the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and the North Carolina State Suicide Prevention Action Plan aim to prevent suicide by increasing access to evidence-informed services that address suicide, mental health, and substance use disorder;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim September 10 – 16, 2023, as “NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.