PROCLAMATION
Suicide Prevention Month September 2024
WHEREAS, the Napa County Suicide Prevention Council, a public/private collaborative of people and organizations who are dedicated to reducing stigma surrounding suicide, supporting those who have lost loved ones to suicide, identifying and advocating for resources and promoting a safe, connected and resilient community dedicated to reducing the risk of suicide; and,
WHEREAS, in the last seven years Napa County Suicide Prevention Council has worked tirelessly to reach their vision of a suicide-free community through education and training, stigma reduction, linkage to services, and provision of resources to combat suicide; and WHEREAS, from 2020-2022, the suicide rate in California was 10.7 deaths per 100,000 population and Napa County’s was 11.9 deaths per 100,000 population, placing Napa County higher than the State average; and
WHEREAS, in Napa County in Calendar Year 2023, residents between the ages of 18-35 had the highest suicide rate. The most common mechanisms for suicide was by firearms (40%), and hanging (40%); and
WHEREAS, in Calendar Year 2023, 15 individuals completed suicide in Napa County; and WHEREAS, in FY 23-24, the Napa County Suicide Prevention Council trained 768 community members in the Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) model of suicide prevention to help prevent suicides; and
WHEREAS, in January 2024, the Napa County Suicide Prevention Council published a 3-year Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention which reflects the priorities, accomplishments, and needs for suicide prevention in our county and outlines a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention; and
WHEREAS, in partnership with Napa County Health and Human Services, the Napa County Suicide Prevention Council is hosting the first annual Suicide Prevention Conference on September 18th, Hope Beyond Darkness: Uniting for Suicide Prevention; and WHEREAS, every Napa County resident can be an ally by knowing the signs of suicide, finding the words to communicate with someone they are concerned about, and reaching out to local resources for help.
NOW, THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED, that I, Margie Mohler, Mayor of the Town of Yountville, along with the Town Council, does hereby proclaim September 2024 as Suicide Prevention Month in Napa County.
Margie Mohler, Mayor
Dated: September 17, 2024