Res 0052-2018

By Council Members Gibson, Brannan, Salamanca and Ayala Whereas, Tragically, individuals of all backgrounds and walks of life commit suicide; and Whereas, According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), suicide was the third leading cause of death for children 10 to 14 years old in 2015; and Whereas, Statistics from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) indicate that suicide is the 4th leading cause of death for individuals between 10 and 14 years of age; and Whereas, Data from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) found that there were more deaths in New York City from suicide than homicide between 2000 and 2014 and that the annual rate of suicide citywide rose by 14.5 percent during that time period; Whereas, Adolescence can be a difficult time due to the mental and physical changes that individuals undergo; and Whereas, However, the National Institutes of Health has estimated that nearly 80 percent of children who need mental health services will not receive them; and Whereas, New York City has the largest public school system in the country and its schools educate approximately 1.1 million children every year; and Whereas, According to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), 27 percent of New York City high school students report feeling sad or hopeless each month and 8 percent report having attempted suicide; and Whereas, Schools exist in large part to ensure the holistic development of the child, linking academic development with social growth and emotional support; and Whereas, For decades, public health professionals have touted the virtues of prevention for afflictions ranging from the flu to sexually transmitted diseases, reasoning that mitigating problems in advance is preferable to dealing with them once they have reached crisis proportions; and Whereas, Employing a suicide prevention coordinator in every school district in New York City would expand the reach and scope of preventative efforts and make it easier for troubled teens to seek help; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on every school district in New York City to employ a suicide prevention coordinator LS#3194 1/12/18 MK 1