Governor to proclaim April 8 Florida Suicide Prevention Day

April 7, 2008

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — There are currently more than 31,000 suicides nationwide annually. In Florida, there were 2,410 reported suicides in 2005. Suicide ranks third behind accidents and homicides as a cause of death among Americans age 15 to 24. It is generally estimated that there are at least eight to 20 attempts for each death by suicide. Suicide is one of the most disruptive and tragic events a family and a community can experience. The stigma associated with mental illness works against suicide prevention. One in six Americans suffers from depression, and yet this illness remains hidden. This stigma associated with suicide further traumatizes those people who lose a loved one by suicide.

Join the statewide Office of Suicide Prevention and the Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition as advocates, survivors, grassroots organizations, youth and state agencies come together to bring suicide to the forefront as a public issue and, over time, save thousands of lives.

The walk will begin at 1:30 p.m. on April 8 at the Old Capitol Building and will end in Waller Park for a press conference at 2 p.m. The press conference will feature Gov. Crist; Bill Janes, director of the Office of Drug Control; Jim McDonough, Award Recipient and former secretary of the Department of Corrections; Seamus McCarthy, keynote speaker for the Suicide Prevention Action Network USA; and Judy Bousquet Broward, chair of the Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition (and UF employee).

Display booths also will be available in the Capitol Plaza Rotunda from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you or a loved one have suicidal thoughts, contact 1-800-273-TALK. This also is a special hotline for veterans.

Please visit http://www.floridasuicideprevention.org/ for more information.