Agenda

Return

C. 18

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Date:	September 11, 2018

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Declaration of September as Suicide Prevention Month

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 09/11/2018

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Matthew White, MD, 925-957-5201
cc:	Tasha Scott Marcy Wilhelm Jennifer Bruggeman

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: September 11, 2018
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT Resolution No. 2018/483 declaring September 2018 Suicide Prevention Month in Contra Costa County, as recommended by the Health Services Director.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND:

In this country, 44,965 individuals died by suicide in 2016 (the most recent year for which we have official statistics). Someone dies by suicide every 11.7 minutes in the United States. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of all deaths in the United States and the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 15 and 24. In Contra Costa County, 129 individuals took their lives in 2016. It is a generally accepted belief that for each completed suicide, there are about 100 attempts. That would mean that approximately 13,000 individuals attempted suicide in Contra Costa County in 2016. Firearm is the leading method of suicide both nationally and in Contra Costa County.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Maintain suicide rate at current level. Maintain level of shame, stigma and isolation around suicide for survivors and family members. National suicide rates continue to rise.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Suicide has an everlasting impact on survivors, particularly children. Reducing the number of attempted and completed suicides avoids the trauma of losing a loved one to suicide.