Governor Stein Proclaims National Suicide Prevention Week

National Suicide Prevention Week

2025

By The Governor Of The State Of North Carolina

A Proclamation

Whereas, suicide is a public health crisis affecting people of all ages across all socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds; and with 1,557 people ages 10 and older dying by suicide in North Carolina in 2024, it is the eighth leading cause of death in our state and the second leading cause of death for those ages 10 to 40; and

Whereas, suicide has a substantial impact on North Carolina; and for every death by suicide in North Carolina in 2024, there were two hospitalizations and eight emergency department visits for self-inflicted injury, resulting in 2,934 hospitalizations and 12,530 emergency department visits; and

Whereas, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States and the second leading cause of death among children ages 10 to 14, teens and young adults ages 15 to 24, and adults ages 25 to 34; and more than half of the suicide deaths among youth ages 10 to 18 involved firearms; and

Whereas, public awareness of the warning signs and support networks – including the three-digit 988 number for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline available to everyone through call, chat, or text to a trained counselor who will listen, offer support, and provide community resources 24 hours a day, seven days a week –  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; and

Whereas, 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, Josh Stein, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim September 7 – 13, 2025, as “National Suicide Prevention Week” in North Carolina and commend its observance to all citizens.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this twenty-fifth day of August in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-fifth and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.