Board Resolution Declares September 2024 as Suicide Prevention Month

The San Diego County Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution declaring September 2024 as Suicide Prevention Month. Resolution No. 2024-44 reads:

WHEREAS, youth suicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults between the ages of 10 and 24; and 

WHEREAS, in 2023, two in 10 students seriously considered attempting suicide, and almost one in 10 students attempted suicide; female students were more likely than male students to consider attempting suicide seriously and were more likely to make a suicide plan (Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2023); and 

WHEREAS, according to Working Paper: California’s Children & Youth Behavioral Health Ecosystem:

• Mental health is the number one reason children ages 0 to17 are hospitalized
• One in five children live with a mental health diagnosis
• One in two high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
• Suicidality among Black youth in California increased by 28% in 2020, more than any otherracial group
• Emergency department visits for suspected suicide among girls rose 50% nationally in 2021;and

WHEREAS, in 2024, 13% of youth in California are experiencing serious thoughts of suicide, 20% of youth ages 12-17 reported suffering from at least one major depressive episode in the past year, and 62% of these youth did not receive any mental health treatment (The State of Mental Health in America, 2024); and 

WHEREAS, 10% of high school students in California attempted suicide in the past year, and this percentage was highest among females, American Indian/Alaska Native youth, Black teens, and lesbian, gay, or bisexual teens (CDC, 2023); and 

WHEREAS, 2023-24 California Healthy Kids Survey Data demonstrates that 12% of 7th graders and 11% of 9th and 11th graders in San Diego County have seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days; and 

WHEREAS, youth suicide is a preventable public health problem that can be positively impacted by ensuring youth feel connected to family and community, and educators and schools are critical components of community support for youth; and 

WHEREAS, no single suicide prevention effort will be sufficient or appropriate for all populations or communities; mental health and wellness must be a top priority in our schools to increase awareness of mental health issues, reduce the stigma associated with talking about mental health, and reduce the number of student suicides; and 

WHEREAS, declaring September 2024 as Suicide Prevention Month will raise awareness that prevention is possible, treatment is effective, and people do recover from mental health challenges; and 

WHEREAS, September has been recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month; Sept. 9-13 is recognized across the United States as National Suicide Prevention Week and provides the opportunity to educate our community about warning signs and how best to help those in need; and Sept. 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, which was first held in 2003 as an initiative of the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organization. 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the San Diego County Board of Education hereby declares September 2024 as Suicide Prevention Month and thereby requests that each school district, school, elected official, business, government agency, health care provider, organization, and citizen, recommit our community to increasing awareness and understanding of suicide prevention.