Your
Invitation to Participate in Harrisburg
Throughout the day on Tuesday, September 6, the commonwealth will hold a series
of events in the Capital Rotunda. The day’s events are sponsored by
the state in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Suicide Prevention Initiative,
of which PCPA is a member. You, your organization, and the consumers and families
you serve are invited to actively participate in this awareness day program.
You and your agency are invited to:
- Recommend a speaker to share their story of prevention, intervention, or survival;
- Join with other community members at noon to hear from state leaders and suicide survivors about the importance of suicide prevention;
- Set up a table and display reflecting your community or agency efforts in support of suicide prevention; and
- Participate in the Empty Shoe Memorial by bringing a pair of new or gently used shoes to be placed on the capital steps in remembrance of person lost to suicide (all shoes will be donated).
To arrange participation as a speaker or to have a formal display please contact Tami Wright at the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services by calling 717-772-6870 or via email at tawright@state.pa.us by August 26.
Why
We Come Together
Community providers work daily to stem the tragic loss of life and heal the
pain of the survivors of suicide. We need to remind our communities that:
- In 2003, an average of 3.5 Pennsylvanians died by suicide each day;
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15-19 year olds;
- Suicide claimed more than 1,300 lives in Pennsylvania in 2003;
- It is estimated that each suicide directly affects at least six people, and
- Nearly twice as many people in Pennsylvania died by suicide than homicide.
For more information about this event contact Connell O'Brien at PCPA.
