Suicide in the present
In 1996, the Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network began a grassroots effort to educate our political leaders about the reality of suicide. A national conference was held in 1998, which brought together a variety stakeholders to discuss targets for a national campaign to reduce the incidence of suicide in the United States. The next year, Dr. David Satcher, the Surgeon General of the United States, released a Call to Action to Prevent Suicide, declaring suicide a national public health issue. Two years later, the Department of Health & Human Services published the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action, which challenged states to take notice and provided a blueprint for them to act. Today, many organizations across the country are working together to set the former Surgeon General’s plan into action. President Bush has even released a report from the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, entitled, Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America. This document supports the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Louisiana has joined the cause with the LA Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force, the S.T.A.R. Plan for youth suicide prevention, gatekeeper suicide education training and community summits for suicide awareness. The result of action can already be seen. Before the year 2000, the United States experienced one suicide every 17 minutes. National statistics for the year 2000 added a minute to that deadly clock - now the U.S. loses one citizen to suicide every 18 minutes. Progress is counted in every life saved. Education and awareness are the best keys to continue the important job of reducing the impact of suicide in our society. Suicide is not just a mental health problem - it is truly a concern for the entire community.
