AAS Calls for Billion Dollar War on Suicide as CDC Reports Record-Setting Increase

WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES, November 29, 2018 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) calls on the nation and its suicide prevention partners to address suicide at the scale of the problem.

“Our Nation must immediately and dramatically increase the funding for suicide prevention and intervention research. We must mobilize a nationwide public health effort in the face of the deaths of more than forty four thousand Americans annually,” says Colleen Creighton, AAS Executive Director.

This response comes after a CDC report, released today, highlighted a record-setting Increase in rates from 1999 - 2017 (10.5 per 100,000 to 14 per 100,000, respectively). The report found significant increases in suicide across all demographic groups; these increases are unprecedented in the history of suicide data reporting since 1950.

“In the face of these numbers, the current US investment in suicide research is embarrassing. It amounts to less than ¼ of what our nation spends on dietary supplement research alone,” says Anthony D. Wood, AAS Board Chair.

For those people who want to join us in our mission to better understand suicide and to support those affected by it can learn more at www.suicidology.org.

For the Media: Responsible reporting on suicide, including stories of hope and resilience, can prevent more suicides. Please visit the Reporting on Suicide guidelines for more information.

About AAS: Founded in 1968 by Edwin S. Shneidman, PhD, AAS promotes suicide as a research discipline, public awareness programs, public education and training for professionals and volunteers. The membership of AAS includes mental health and public health professionals, researchers, suicide prevention and crisis intervention centers, school districts, crisis center volunteers, survivors of suicide loss, attempt survivors, and a variety of lay persons who have in interest in suicide prevention.

Colleen Creighton
American Association of Suicidology
202-237-2280
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