WHEREAS, September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, when people across the world unite to demonstrate commitment and action to prevent suicides; and

WHEREAS, the rate of Servicemembers who take their own lives has been rising and the rate of suicide in the National Guard is now 27 suicides per 100,000 Soldiers or Airmen; and

WHEREAS, suicide is the ninth leading cause of death for people ages 10-64 in the United States, claiming the lives of more than 48,000 people in 2021 alone; and

WHEREAS, an estimated 12.3 million American adults seriously pondered suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide, and 1.7 million attempted suicide in 2021; and

WHEREAS, the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health is a major barrier to care for individuals with thoughts of suicide; and

WHEREAS, promoting connectedness, removing barriers to care, and creating supportive environments help to prevent suicides and suicidal thoughts and behaviors; and

WHEREAS, the Nevada National Guard and the Nevada Department of Veterans Services will conduct the Second Annual Suicide Prevention Forum for Nevada Guard soldiers, airmen, families, veterans, and civilians;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOE LOMBARDO, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim September 29, 2023 as

NEVADA NATIONAL GUARD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY IN NEVADA