Suicide is a serious issue, both statewide and nationally.

Macon County Mayor Shelvy Linville on Wednesday, Aug. 18, signed a proclamation declaring September Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in Macon County, urging all citizens “to work to prevent this suicide and to raise awareness and tolerance around all people affected by this tragedy.

Every year in Tennessee an estimated 750 men, women and children die by suicide.

Nationally, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death, with one suicide occurring every 18 minutes.

More than 765,000 Americans attempt suicide each year, and roughly five million Americans are survivors or the suicide of a friend, family member or loved one.

In the 15-24 age bracket in Tennessee, suicide ranks as the third leading cause of death, and the state suicide rate routinely surpasses the national average by a margin of 30 percent or more.

Due to these statistics, the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network has set aside September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in Tennessee.

In addition to a proclamation from the governor, proclamations are also being signed and collected from mayors and county executives across the state.

Linville did his part by signing the proclamation, which urges all citizens “to work to prevent this suicide and to raise awareness and tolerance around all people affected by this tragedy.”

Linville signed the proclamations at 10 a.m. in his office at the courthouse.

Brenda Harper, director of Valley Ridge Mental Health Center, was present as Linville signed the proclamation, which reads:

The State of Tennessee Proclamation From the Office of the Mayor

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

September 2010

WHEREAS, nationally, suicide is one of the most disruptive and tragic events a family and a community can experience. Annually, more than 30,000 lives are lost, and it is estimated that for every suicide there are 8-25 attempted suicides; and

WHEREAS, suicide is the third leading cause of death among people from the age of 15 to 24 in the United States and in Tennessee (TDOH) and the ninth-leading killer overall in Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, public awareness is the key to preventing further suffering and loss of life; and whereas the risk for human self-destruction can be reduced through awareness, education, referrals and treatment, and

WHEREAS, suicide prevention has been declared a national priority by the President and Congress; and Tennessee declares suicide prevention as a state priority and supports TSPN to implement the Tennessee Strategies for Suicide Prevention based on the United States Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Suicide, and

WHEREAS, Tennessee is a national leader in the effort to prevent suicide, being one of the first states to have already developed a statewide suicide prevention plan; and

WHEREAS, the Governor of Tennessee has appointed a Suicide Prevention Network Advisory Council to coordinate the implementation of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Strategy; and

WHEREAS, the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network is a grassroots collaboration of Tennesseans and organizations working to eliminate the stigma of suicide, educate the community about the warning signs of suicide, and ultimately reduce the rate of suicide in our state; and

WHEREAS, the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network is committed to excellence in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Shelvy Linville, Mayor of Macon Count, do hereby proclaim September 2010 as SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH in Macon County, and do urge all citizens to work to prevent suicide and to raise awareness and tolerance around all people affected by this tragedy.