Resolution Recognizing September as Suicide Prevention and Action Month in the City of Boston. On motion of Councilors Arroyo and Mejia the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.
Thank you. Docket 1006 Councilors Arroyo and Maria offered the following resolution recognizing September as suicide prevention and action month in the city of Boston. Thank you. The chair now recognizes the district council from Hyde Park Councilor Arroyo. The floor is yours. Thank you, Mr. Chair. September is Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month. Suicide is currently the 10th leading cause of death for adults. And when you go to the ages of 10 to 34 years old, it is actually the second leading cause of death, which is heartbreaking. As somebody myself who is struggling with suicidal ideation, as some members of this council shared their own struggles. We know that part of the problem is that mental health and concerns around mental health are stigmatized in a way that prevent people from seeking help and doing that. And so while I have the floor and if anybody is watching this, you can seek confidential emotional support by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 28, which is 24 seven at one 800 273 talk and four for English. And it's actually 18818886289454 for Spanish. This is something that I'd like to. With with this pandemic, we're going to see sort of unseen levels of post traumatic stress disorder, unseen levels of trauma. And I don't think that we have adequately we didn't have the resources, frankly, on the ground to deal with trauma and things like that the way we needed to before this pandemic. And I think this is something that beyond just resolutions and things that we're going to do as we head into this next step of recovery, this is something that simply does just have to be a focus for us and for our city and for the country. And so I'd also like to thank my co-sponsor on this councilman here who has bravely shared her story time and time again. And so I hope to see real assets and real attention on this matter moving forward, because mental health is wildly important to the city and really is wildly important to everything else that anybody does on any given day. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Counselor Arroyo. The chair now recognizes the at large council from Dorchester Councilor. Me here. The floor is yours. Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to Councilor Arroyo for co-sponsoring this resolution with us. I'm going to keep it together. Are you going to keep it together? I would also like to put out a trigger warning for folks listening in that we will be talking about a topic of suicide. And I think people need to acknowledge that that is triggering for a lot of folks. Last year, when we sponsored this resolution, I shared my own story as a survivor. I shared the story because I knew it was important to show. That that anyone could be living their lives with those dark thoughts in their head. And that is why I want to talk about today the fact that anyone could be living with suicide ideations or tendencies. A person experiencing these things may not look like what you expect. They may not resemble what you see in the movies or on TV. Depression and suicide. Suicidal ideation takes on many different shapes and forms that may look completely different from one person to another. That is why it's so important to check in on the important people in your life. To check in on yourself to. Remind the people in your life that no matter that they matter to you, even the people who may make it look like everything is fine in their lives. I also want to talk about what suicide prevention really looks like because contrary to what most people think. Suicide prevention is more than just sharing suicide prevention hotlines. Suicide prevention is food security. Suicide prevention is affordable housing. It's access to affordable health care, de-stigmatizing mental illness, family acceptance of the LGBTQ relatives, financial security and so much more. As an office, we have fought to uplift mental illness throughout COVID 19 pandemic. And all issues and sectors. And we know. That what we have, that what has been top of mind for everyone as well has been mental health and wellness, especially those who are experiencing social isolation. We need to continue that work beyond the pandemic and we look forward to committing ourselves to that work. I move that we suspend the rules and pass this resolution today. And think of all of those who are at home, sitting alone, feeling unloved, unseen, unheard. And for all of those who have lost loved ones by suicide, we send you lots of love. Thank you. Thank you very much, Councilman. Here, the chair now recognizes the At-Large Council from Dorchester Councilor Annie Society. George, the floor is yours. Thank you very much, Mr. President. And thank you to the makers, the lead sponsors on this resolution. I think it's so important that we continue to talk aloud about about suicide, about the necessary work that needs to be done to prevent suicide and to support those that have been directly impacted by this. Please add my name and look forward to this passage as well. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Councilor Sabi George. Madam Clerk, please add Councilor Ni Sabi George The chair now recognizes the District Councilor from Dorchester Councilor Frank Baker. The floor is yours. Thank you. Mr. Chair. First, add my name. December 7th, 1992. Michael Malone, Moldova. He called me on the phone. He was drinking that night. He had been sober for a while. He shot himself over the phone to me. I didn't even realize how much it was going to affect me till I was. Through what I did to to try to numb my pain for those however many years I was numb of my pain. But thank you for. I'm putting this forth when someone. Is in that position and takes themself out. We don't even know how bad it is. And and and also the families and the people that are around them also affected me for years. I still think of him every day. He was my best friend in grammar school and we kind of fell apart a little bit. He went heavy on to one side and I was trying to remain straight in my life. And so it's a way for me to honor a buddy of mine. And I appreciate it. Thank you. Counselor Roy on counseling being a very, very important. So thank you. Thank you, Councilor Baker. And I'm quite pleased. Councilor Frank Baker. But any other councilors wish to speak on this. But any councilors wish to have their name. Madam Clerk, please add. Councilor. Councilor. Brain. Councilor Campbell. Councilor Edwards. Councilor Flaherty. Councilor Flynn. Councilor. Me here. Please add the chair and councilor to councilors. Arroyo and me and Baker are seeking suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 1006. All those in favor, please indicate by saying I oppose. Nay, the ayes have it. The docket is passed. Thank you, Madam Clerk, would you now please read docket 1007.