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Suicide Prevention in Tennessee History of Suicide Prevention in Tennessee Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network Statistics on Suicide in Tennessee National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
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Suicide
Prevention Day
Suicide
prevention advocates, suicide survivors and various elected
officials from throughout the state gathered at the State
Capitol on May 28 for a program to highlight suicide prevention. A proclamation
from Governor Don Sundquist declared it Suicide Prevention
Awareness Day in Tennessee as attendees recited “I pledge
to do whatever I can both personally and professionally to
prevent suicide among my fellow Tennesseans.” The group
heard from the State’s Chief Administrative Officer Eleanor
Yoakum; DMHDD Commissioner Elisabeth Rukeyser; Anita Bertrand,
chair of the Tennessee Suicide Advisory Council; Debi Dinwiddie-Anderson
of the TAD Foundation and Clark Flatt of the Jason Foundation. Attendees, including Attorney General Paul Summers, signed a giant banner that will be taken across the state to various suicide prevention events. Every year, an estimated 700 men, women and children die by suicide in Tennessee. The DMHDD
is encouraging individuals to contact their local health provider
or the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network for information
on how to become involved in suicide prevention activities.
For those in a crisis situation, emergency care should be
sought immediately. Commissioner Elisabeth Rukeyser said many times suicide victims have a significant mental illness at the time of their death. “Often victims are undiagnosed or not treated at all,” Rukeyser said. “We need to help these individuals get through their times of need and to let them know that people do care about their situation. We need to be pro-active not reactive.” Nationally, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death with one occurring on average every 18 minutes. That’s 30,000 people whose lives could be saved each year. The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network—in conjunction with the DMHDD's Office of Public Information—coordinated activities at this proclamation event. For more information: The TAD
Foundation The Jason
Foundation
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