Special consideration will be given to consumer/peer leaders who are working to improve public
awareness about and reduce instances of suicide and suicide attempts. Special consideration will
also be given to television and film productions that sensitively portray stories of people who have
considered, attempted, or completed suicide, yet do not romanticize suicide, idealize those who
complete it, or expose viewers to graphic or sensationalistic specifics of suicidal behavior.
Why Now?
Nearly 40,000 people in the United States die from suicide annually, or 1 person every 13
minutes. It is the 10th leading cause of death in our country.
Particularly in high-risk populations—working-aged adults, men in mid-life, suicide attempt
survivors, military service members, and LGBTQ youth—the suicide rate has been rising
over the past decade.
The causes of suicide are complex and determined by many factors, such as mental illness,
addiction, exposure to traumatic events, and social isolation. Prevention efforts can play a
role in mitigating these circumstances and experiences.
There is strong evidence that a comprehensive public health approach is effective in
reducing suicide rates. The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (released in 2012