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Special recognition of September 2025 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
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SPECIAL RECOGNITION
WHEREAS, September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, which was created to raise awareness, spread resources, and begin an open dialogue about mental health; and
WHEREAS, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, with over 49,000 deaths annually, equating to one death every 11 minutes; and
WHEREAS, 12.8 million American adults seriously contemplate suicide each year, with 3.7 million people planning a suicide attempt, and 1.5 million attempting suicide; and
WHEREAS, 1 in 20 U.S. adults (5%) experience serious thoughts of suicide each year, with 79% of all people who die by suicide in the U.S. being male, and men being 4 times more likely to die by suicide than women; and
WHEREAS, firearms remain the most common method of suicide, used in 50% of suicides, which underscores the need for safe gun storage practices and policies to prevent firearm-related suicide; and
WHEREAS, suicide is the second leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 10 to 14, highlighting the urgent need for focused youth mental health resources and intervention; and
WHEREAS, schools in Lake County have implemented "gatekeeper training" for teachers, staff, and administrators, equipping them with the knowledge to recognize warning signs and refer students to mental health professionals for support; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Health Department offers Mental Health First Aid training classes, which teach residents how to support individuals developing or experiencing a mental health crisis; and
WHEREAS, increased investment in suicide prevention, education, and research will limit the untimely deaths of thousands of individuals across the nation and in Lake County, fostering a healthier, more resilient community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RECOGNIZED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that September is Nation...
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