20250ACR_007096CHP INTRODUCED 2025-04-24 AMENDED_SENATE 2025-07-09 PASSED_ASSEMBLY 2025-09-02 PASSED_SENATE 2025-08-29 ENROLLED 2025-09-04 CHAPTERED 2025-09-10 FILED 2025-09-10 2025 ACR CHP CHR 0 Introduced by Assembly Member Pellerin (Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Berman and Ramos) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Chen, Connolly, Mark González, Pacheco, Blanca Rubio, Schiavo, Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ransom, Rivas, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Sanchez, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, and Zbur) (Coauthors: Senators Caballero, Choi, Cortese, Gonzalez, Grayson, Hurtado, Ochoa Bogh, Rubio, Seyarto, Umberg, and Valladares) LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Pellerin PRINCIPAL_COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Berman PRINCIPAL_COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ramos COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Chen COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Connolly COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Mark González COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Pacheco COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Blanca Rubio COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Schiavo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Addis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Aguiar-Curry COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ahrens COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Alanis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Alvarez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Arambula COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ávila Farías COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bains COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bauer-Kahan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bennett COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Boerner COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bonta COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bryan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Calderon COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Caloza COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Carrillo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Castillo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Davies COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY DeMaio COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Dixon COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Elhawary COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ellis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Flora COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Fong COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gabriel COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gallagher COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Garcia COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gipson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hadwick COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Haney COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Harabedian COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hart COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hoover COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Irwin COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Jackson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Kalra COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Krell COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Lackey COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Lowenthal COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Macedo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY McKinnor COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Muratsuchi COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Nguyen COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ortega COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Papan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Patel COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Patterson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Petrie-Norris COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Quirk-Silva COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ransom COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Rivas COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Celeste Rodriguez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Michelle Rodriguez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Rogers COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Sanchez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Schultz COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Sharp-Collins COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Solache COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Soria COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Stefani COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ta COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Tangipa COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Valencia COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wallis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ward COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wicks COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wilson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Zbur COAUTHOR SENATE Caballero COAUTHOR SENATE Choi COAUTHOR SENATE Cortese COAUTHOR SENATE Gonzalez COAUTHOR SENATE Grayson COAUTHOR SENATE Hurtado COAUTHOR SENATE Ochoa Bogh COAUTHOR SENATE Rubio COAUTHOR SENATE Seyarto COAUTHOR SENATE Umberg COAUTHOR SENATE Valladares Relative to Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This measure would proclaim September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. NO

WHEREAS, September is known nationally as “Suicide Prevention Awareness Month” to raise the visibility of the mental health resources and suicide prevention service available in our community; and

WHEREAS, Suicide is a serious public health problem that affects individuals, families, and communities across California; and

WHEREAS, The goal is to speak openly about the importance of mental health and the impacts of suicide to help remove the surrounding stigmas, and to direct those in need to the appropriate support services; and

WHEREAS, Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, income level, religion, or background; and

WHEREAS, According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), suicide is the second leading cause of death among adults to years of age, inclusive, the second leading cause of death among Native American youth to years of age, inclusive, and the third leading cause of death among individuals to years of age, inclusive, in California; and

WHEREAS, Four thousand three hundred twelve people died by suicide in California in 2022, which, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was more than twice the number of homicides; and

WHEREAS, In 2023, there was an average of suicides per day in the United States, which is one every minutes; and

WHEREAS, In 2022, 49,476 Americans died by suicide, 68 percent of whom were White males; and

WHEREAS, The overall suicide rate in California is 10.5 per 100,000 people, the highest county rate is in the County of Shasta at 24.9, and the lowest rate is in the County of Imperial at 5.8; and

WHEREAS, Suicide rates vary significantly across different racial and ethnic groups. The rates per 100,000 people are: 15.6 for White individuals, 13.4 for American Indian or Alaska Native individuals; 7.0 for Black individuals, 6.4 for Hispanic or Latino individuals, and 5.0 for Asian individuals; and

WHEREAS, Firearms were used in one out of three of those suicide deaths; and

WHEREAS, LGBTQIA+ youth were almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth, 54 percent of transgender and nonbinary youth in California considered suicide, and percent of transgender and nonbinary youth attempted suicide in the past year; and

WHEREAS, In 2021, 12,300,000 American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3,500,000 made a plan, and 1,700,000 attempted suicide; and

WHEREAS, More than percent of communities in California did not have enough mental health providers to serve residents in 2021, according to federal guidelines; and

WHEREAS, Since its launch in July 2022, the suicide prevention lifeline has experienced a notable increase in utilization, reflecting both heightened awareness and demand for mental health support services; and

WHEREAS, In May 2023, California’s crisis centers responded to approximately 37,800 contacts, including calls, text messages, and chats, marking a 28-percent increase compared to the same period the previous year before the launch; and

WHEREAS, Anyone can call or text 988, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year, to receive support when experiencing a suicidal, mental health, or substance use-related crisis; and

WHEREAS, Suicide is preventable so if you recognize the signs that someone may be suicidal, find the words to speak to them, and direct them to resources; and

WHEREAS, The State of California recognizes the national, state, and local organizations, including the AFSP, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Institute of Mental Health, Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, The Trevor Project, the State Department of Health Care Services, and county departments of behavioral health, are on the front lines of a war that many still refuse to discuss, as suicide and mental health remain too uncomfortable for many to talk about; and

WHEREAS, It may be beneficial to focus prevention programs and resources on vulnerable populations who are most at risk of suicide, including White males, LGBTQIA+ individuals, particularly transgender individuals, youth, veterans and military personnel, Native Americans, rural and underserved populations, and Black Californians who have seen an increased rate of suicide; and

WHEREAS, Other risk factors can also identify groups who may need support, such as older adults with physical health problems, individuals with alcohol or substance abuse problems, individuals with a history of suicidal thoughts or plans, and individuals in crisis; and

WHEREAS, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is a time to raise awareness of this stigmatized public health crisis in California. The Legislature wants to shift public perception, spread hope, and share vital information to people affected by suicide during this month; and

WHEREAS, California’s goal is to ensure that individuals, friends, and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature encourages all California residents to take the time to ask about the well-being of their family, friends, and neighbors on a consistent basis and to genuinely convey their appreciation for their existence by any gesture they think appropriate, including a simple telephone call, message, handshake, or hug, which can go a long way toward helping someone realize that suicide is not the answer;

now, therefore,

be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims the month of September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month; and be it further Resolved, That the people of California are encouraged to take the time to understand the importance of mental health, recognize the warning signs of suicide, and support those who may be struggling with mental health issues; and be it further Resolved, That Californians are urged to participate in activities and initiatives that promote awareness, education, and support for suicide prevention; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.