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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Suicide is a complex and multifaceted problem, and |
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its increasing incidence among certain vulnerable groups, |
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including youth and veterans, has become an urgent health care |
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priority; and |
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WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and |
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Prevention, the national suicide rate for teenagers has nearly |
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tripled since the 1940s; the rate in Texas is nearly double the |
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national average, and suicide is the second leading cause of death |
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among Texans aged 15 to 34; and |
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WHEREAS, Further compounding the problem, many schools |
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across the state have student-to-counselor ratios that greatly |
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exceed the recommendations of the Texas Model for Comprehensive |
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School Counseling Programs adopted by the State Board of Education; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, It is estimated that more than 20 veterans commit |
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suicide every day in the United States, a rate 1.5 times higher than |
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that of the general population; veterans compose 14 percent of all |
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suicide deaths, despite representing only 8 percent of the national |
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population; and |
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WHEREAS, In Texas, the suicide rate among veterans is more |
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than twice that of the state's overall population, and the risk is |
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more pronounced for those who served in recent conflicts, such as |
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the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; suicide among veterans aged 18-34 |
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rose by 10 percent between 2006 and 2016, translating to 45 deaths |
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for every 100,000 veterans, the largest increase for any age group; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Many factors impact veterans' mental health and |
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well-being, including family and employment issues and the |
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challenge of reintegrating into civilian society; those men and |
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women who have served our country are in dire need of services to |
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assist with life transitions and the stresses that can arise from |
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them; and |
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WHEREAS, Mental health care for veterans is an area of |
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particular need in our state, and a 2015 report by The University of |
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Texas outlined the benefits of providing coordinated mental health |
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services for Texas veterans; and |
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WHEREAS, In the Coastal Bend of Texas, students, teachers, |
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counselors, administrators, veterans, and community advocates have |
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joined together to study the causes and effects of suicide among |
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veterans and adolescents in the state; the coalition conducted two |
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public forums in the spring of 2019 to focus attention on these |
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issues, and the discussions have resulted in recommendations |
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brought forth for consideration during the 86th Texas Legislature; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize the participants in the Coastal Bend |
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forums for their efforts to address the tragic problem of suicide in |
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the state and extend sincere appreciation to these caring |
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individuals. |