National Suicide Prevention Week#Subgroups

National Suicide Prevention Week (NSPW) is an annual week-long campaign in the United States to inform and engage health professionals and the general public about suicide prevention and warning signs of suicide.{{cite news|last=Burkhart|first=Kate|title=Are you searching for "National Suicide Prevention Week"? Highlight these search terms in the article My turn: Together communities can prevent suicide|url=http://juneauempire.com/stories/091109/opi_491941752.shtml|access-date=14 June 2012|newspaper=Juneau Empire|date=September 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221134232/http://juneauempire.com/stories/091109/opi_491941752.shtml|archive-date=21 February 2014|url-status=dead}} By drawing attention to the problem of suicide in the United States, the campaign also strives to reduce the stigma surrounding the topic, as well as encourage the pursuit of mental health assistance and support people who have attempted suicide.{{cite news|title=Suicide Prevention Week to be marked by Thurs. vigil |url=http://www.dailyrepublicannews.com/newsnow/x2056228879/Suicide-Prevention-Week-to-be-marked-by-Thurs-vigil|access-date=14 June 2012|newspaper=Marion Daily Republican|date=September 8, 2009}}

As part of the campaign, health organizations conduct depression screenings—including self-administrated and online tests—and refer interested individuals to a national toll-free telephone number.{{cite news|title=The Main Stream [sic?]: Suicide Prevention Week events around town|url=http://www.kvoa.com/news/suicide-prevention-week-events-around-town/#!prettyPhoto/0/|access-date=14 June 2012|newspaper=KVOA - Tucson, AZ|date=September 5, 2011}}{{dead link|date=July 2016}} Since 1975, NSPW awareness events are held throughout the week corresponding to World Suicide Prevention Day, which is recognized annually on the 10th of September. The dates for the 41st annual NSPW in 2015 were September 6–12.{{cite news|last=Murphy|first=Jay David|title=Sen. Reid releases statement on his father's suicide 37 years ago |url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/278939#ixzz1xkI5GH00|access-date=14 June 2012|newspaper=Digital Journal|date=September 9, 2009}}

Background

{{As of|2011}}, the American Association of Suicidology (AAS), which sponsors NSPW, estimates that there are over 4.6 million survivors of attempted suicide in the United States.{{cite web|title=National Suicide Prevention Week Information & Media Kit|url=http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=236&name=DLFE-368.pdf|work=Campaign media kit|publisher=American Association of Suicidology|access-date=14 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602221443/http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=236&name=DLFE-368.pdf|archive-date=2012-06-02|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Suicide Soars|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0x9KAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ViINAAAAIBAJ&pg=6054,630603&dq=national-suicide-prevention-week&hl=en|access-date=14 June 2012|newspaper=The Press-Courier|date=February 6, 1985}}{{cite web|title=38th Annual National Suicide Prevention Week: Collaborations in Suicidology: Bridging the Disciplines September 9th - 15th, 2012|url=http://www.suicidology.org/about-aas/nspw|publisher=American Association of Suicidology|access-date=14 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606001228/http://www.suicidology.org/about-aas/nspw|archive-date=6 June 2012}} As of 2009, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S. annually, with 33,000 fatalities resulting from approximately 1.8 million attempts every year.{{cite news|last=Woods|first=Tyler|title=This Week Is National Suicide Prevention Week|url=http://www.emaxhealth.com/1357/25/33364/week-national-suicide-prevention-week.html|access-date=14 June 2012|newspaper=Emax Health|date=September 7, 2009}} Researchers report that more than 90 percent of suicide fatalities had depression or "another diagnosable mental illness or substance abuse disorder." According to Major David Reynolds, chief of Clinical Health Psychology at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, "The vast majority of people don't commit suicide because they want to kill themselves, but as a way to end the torment of not being able to cope with their problem."{{cite news|title=National Suicide Prevention Week|url=http://www.military.com/military-report/national-suicide-prevention-week-09-08-08|access-date=14 June 2012|newspaper=Military.com|date=September 8, 2008}}

Suicide rates for young adults aged 15–24 rose 136 percent from 1960 to 1980.{{cite news|last=Zeitlin|first=Arnold|title=Psychologist Warns of International Suicide Epidemic Among Young|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6hAhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WnMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1215,1383543&dq=national-suicide-prevention-week&hl=en|access-date=14 June 2012|newspaper=Schenectady Gazette|date=February 7, 1985|page=4}} Suicide remains the third leading cause of death among people between the ages of 12–24.{{cite news|last=Melin|first=Amy|title=AFSP walkathon raises suicide awareness|url=http://www.westernherald.com/news/afsp-walkathon-raises-suicide-awareness/|access-date=14 June 2012|newspaper=Western Herald|date=September 11, 2008}}

Subgroups

A 2009 U.S. Army report indicates military veterans have double the suicide rate of non-veterans, and more active-duty soldiers are dying from suicide than in combat in the Iraq War (2003–2011) and War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). Colonel Carl Castro, director of military operational medical research for the Army, noted "there needs to be a cultural shift in the military to get people to focus more on mental health and fitness."{{cite news|last=Jelinek|first=Pauline|title=Army: soldier suicide rate may set record again|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-09-04-3529406939_x.htm|access-date=14 June 2012|newspaper=USA Today/Associated Press|date=September 5, 2008}}

Suicide rates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and adults in the U.S. are three times higher than national averages. According to some groups, this is linked to heterocentric cultures and institutionalised homophobia; in some cases, including the exploitation of LGBTQ people as a political wedge issue, such as in contemporary efforts to halt the legalization of same-sex marriages.[http://actionallianceforsuicideprevention.blogspot.com/2012/04/national-action-alliance-for-suicide.html National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention Tackles LGBT Suicide], (April 26, 2012), Kellan Baker and Josh Garcia, National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. Many tie bullying, including cyberbullying to suicides of LGBTQ youth. Celebrity Lady Gaga has been an outspoken advocate on these issues, and has met U.S. President Barack Obama to urge that bullying of this nature be declared a hate crime.{{cite news|last=Michaels|first=Sean|title=Lady Gaga to meet with Obama over bullying: Singer plans to discuss anti-bullying legislation with president following fan's suicide|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/sep/23/lady-gaga-obama-bullying|access-date=14 June 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=September 23, 2011}}

=The Trevor Project=

Founded in 1998 to address suicide among LGBT youth, The Trevor Project has enlisted a variety of celebrities, including Ellen DeGeneres, Daniel Radcliffe,{{cite news|title=Happy as Harry; A Grown-up Daniel Radcliffe Talks Bras, Girlfriends, Fame and New Opportunities as He Reflects on a Decade Playing the Boy Wizard| author = Barnard, Linda |work= Toronto Star |date=November 19, 2010|page=E.1}} Neil Patrick Harris,{{YouTube|id=l3Y52kD0G2c|title= "Neil Patrick Harris' Message to Gay Youth," October 3, 2010}} James Marsden,{{cite news|title=Dicen no al suicidio| author = Estrada, Nora Alicia | work=Mural|location=Guadalajara, Mexico|date=December 7, 2010|page=2|language=es}} Chris Colfer,{{cite news|title=Celebrities Flooding Internet with Anti-Gay Bullying Posts| author = Moore, John | work= Charleston Daily Mail |date=October 19, 2010|page=B.10}} Kim Kardashian,{{cite web |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/kim-kardashian-donates-50000-to-the-trevor-project-2012241 |title=Kim Kardashian Donates $50,000 to The Trevor Project |date=January 24, 2012 |access-date=January 24, 2012}} Darren Criss,{{YouTube|id=q_SGA46QxP4|title= "Darren Criss performs "Not Alone" at Trevor Live," December 13, 2010}} Dianna Agron,[http://www.causes.com/causes/645693-the-trevor-project-dianna-agron-birthday-project The Trevor Project: Dianna Agron Birthday Project] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721180832/http://www.causes.com/causes/645693-the-trevor-project-dianna-agron-birthday-project |date=2012-07-21 }} George Takei,{{YouTube|id=UACK93xF-FE|title= "George Takei Calls Out Anti-Gay Arkansas School Board Member," November 1, 2010}} and Anderson Cooper.{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/10/showbiz/tv/anderson-cooper-lewis-black-jeopardy-ew/index.html |title=Anderson Cooper, Dr. Oz to compete on 'Jeopardy' Power Players Week|date=10 May 2012 }} They use NSPW to launch new initiatives and campaigns utilizing their celebrity supporters.{{cite news|title=Glee Star Kevin McHale Talks to Troubled Gay Youths|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/marc_malkin/glee_star_kevin_mchale_talks_troubled/261297|access-date=14 June 2012|newspaper=E! Online|date=September 1, 2011|author=Marc Malkin|author2=Brett Malec}} The project was founded by the Academy Award-winning filmmakers of Trevor, about a gay thirteen-year-old boy who attempts suicide when his friends reject him because of his sexuality.{{cite web|title=History of The Trevor Project|url=http://www.thetrevorproject.org/organization|publisher=The Trevor Project|access-date=14 June 2012}} The filmmakers realized that some of the program's viewers might be facing the same kind of crisis as Trevor, and not finding a helpline for LGBTQ youth they created one. The Trevor Lifeline is the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth.{{cite news |author = Staff | date=October 13, 1998 |title=Trevor Lends a 24-Hour Ear to Youth |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cWMEAAAAMBAJ&q=Trevor%20lends%20a%2024-hour%20ear%20to%20youth&pg=PA14 |page=14|access-date=August 1, 2011 |quote=...the nation's first toll-free 24-hour suicide prevention hot line for gay and questioning youth.}}

Themes

Each year's NSPW observance has had a specific theme:

2005: "Partnerships for Change: Advancing Suicide Prevention Services & Practice"{{cite web|title=Suicide Prevention Week Information & Media Kit |url=http://www.suicidology.org/associations/1045/files/Kit.pdf |work=Media kit |publisher=American Association of Suicidology |access-date=14 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050825224712/http://www.suicidology.org/associations/1045/files/Kit.pdf |archive-date=August 25, 2005 }}
2006: "Science and Practice in Suicidology: Promoting Collaboration, Integration and Understanding"{{cite web|title=National Suicide Prevention Week Information Kit|url=http://www.inmemoryofjoe.org/files/Suicide_Prevention_Week_2006-Info_Kit.pdf|work=Media kit|publisher=American Association of Suicidology|access-date=14 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304132953/http://www.inmemoryofjoe.org/files/Suicide_Prevention_Week_2006-Info_Kit.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}
2007: "Suicide Prevention across the Life Span"{{cite web|title=Massachusetts Psychiatric Society Recognizes National Suicide Prevention Week 2007|url=http://www.psychiatry-mps.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=57|publisher=Massachusetts Psychiatric Society|access-date=14 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713022304/http://www.psychiatry-mps.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1|archive-date=13 July 2012}}
2008: "Advancing Suicidology: Embracing Diversity in Research and Practice"{{cite web|title=National Suicide Prevention Week Information & Media Kit|url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/family/socialwork/SPWeekIdeas2008AAS.pdf|work=Campaign media kit|publisher=American Association of Suicidology|access-date=14 June 2012}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
2009: "A Global Agenda on the Science of Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery"{{cite web|title=National Suicide Prevention Week|url=https://www.facebook.com/events/114231692997/|publisher=Helping Others Prevent & Educate about Suicide|access-date=14 June 2012}}
2010: "Families, Community Systems and Suicide"{{cite news|title=National Suicide Prevention Week in Florida: Several communities and organizations around the state and country are holding events this week to raise awareness and increase education on the issue.|url=http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/102364469.html?ref=469|access-date=14 June 2012|newspaper=WCTV|date=September 7, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035108/http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/102364469.html?ref=469|archive-date=4 March 2016}}
2011: "Changing the Legacy of Suicide"
2012: "Collaborations in Suicidology: Bridging the Disciplines"{{cite web |url=http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=231&name=DLFE-588.pdf |title=2012 National Suicide Prevention Week Information & Media Kit |publisher=American Association of Suicidology |access-date=7 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716231013/http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=231&name=DLFE-588.pdf |archive-date=16 July 2012 }}

References

Category:Suicide in the United States

Category:Awareness weeks in the United States

Category:Health observances

Category:September observances

Category:Holidays and observances by scheduling (nth weekday of the month)