PRINTER'S NO. 1486
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 260
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY ROBINSON, PENNYCUICK, MASTRIANO, AUMENT, ROTHMAN,
DUSH, YAW, TARTAGLIONE, REGAN, BARTOLOTTA, LAUGHLIN, MARTIN,
FARRY, LANGERHOLC, BROWN, KANE, HUTCHINSON, VOGEL, BROOKS,
HUGHES, FLYNN, COMITTA, COSTA, SCHWANK, PHILLIPS-HILL,
BREWSTER, DILLON AND J. WARD, APRIL 5, 2024
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, APRIL 5, 2024
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of September 2024 as "Military Suicide
2 Prevention and Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Current studies confirm a high suicide rate among
4 United States military veterans; and
5 WHEREAS, Suicide is a national public health issue among
6 veterans, nonveteran adults and United States adults; and
7 WHEREAS, Veterans are 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide
8 than those who have never served in the military; and
9 WHEREAS, The risk factor for female veterans is 2.2 times
10 higher; and
11 WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania, we lose nearly 250 veterans per
12 year by suicide; and
13 WHEREAS, The reason for the elevated suicide rate among
14 veterans may be attributed to use of lethal means to complete
15 suicide and contributing factors of high exposure to trauma,
16 stress, burnout, addiction, isolation, unemployment,
 1 homelessness, loneliness and difficulties reintegrating into
2 civilian life; and
3 WHEREAS, Officials at the Department of Military and Veterans
4 Affairs have responded to the veteran suicide crisis by leading
5 the Pennsylvania Governor's and Mayor's Challenges to Prevent
6 Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families, and
7 coordinate concerted efforts to expand their community outreach
8 efforts; and
9 WHEREAS, Major General Schindler, the Adjutant General of
10 Pennsylvania, originated the Department of Military and Veterans
11 Affairs motto to be "Together We Serve," signifying the military
12 family serves together and military service impacts everyone
13 associated with its service; therefore be it
14 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of September
15 2024 as "Military Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month" in
16 Pennsylvania; and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That the Senate fully support the bipartisan
18 actions of the 118th Congress and the United States Department
19 of Veterans Affairs as they continue to work together to improve
20 the needed support for our veterans and their families.
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