2015 -- H 5742

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LC001728

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE SAMARITANS, INC., OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Lancia, Mattiello, Newberry, Kennedy, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2015

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Across our state and this country, the ramifications of suicide have a lasting

impact on family, friends and the community; and

     WHEREAS, According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, suicide is the leading

cause of intentional injury death, with the Rhode Island Medical Examiner's office reporting

1,469 deaths by suicide from 2000 to 2014; and

     WHEREAS, In 2014, RI E-911 responded to more than 1,539 suicide related rescue calls,

and according to the RI Department of Health Data Brief, from 2007 to 2013, high school

students actually attempting suicide increased from 9 percent to 14 percent and for middle

schoolers, the percentage of students with an emotional disability increased from 8 percent to 10

percent; and

     WHEREAS, Throughout history, our nation has been propitiously blessed with everyday

folks who are willing to step forward and get involved, and it is fitting that this House recognizes

their earnest efforts toward the betterment of this state and our citizenry; and

     WHEREAS, The Samaritans, Inc., of Rhode Island is a statewide, independent, non-

religious, philanthropic organization, incorporated in December 1977 with the noble mission "To

have a suicide free Rhode Island"; and to be the "agency of choice" for individuals, families and

other community stakeholders who seek information relating to suicide prevention, grief support,

education and resources; and

     WHEREAS, More than 1,500 adults of all ages as well as college, graduate, and medical

students have become Samaritan volunteers, providing emotional support through the

internationally recognized model called befriending, and staffing the agency's Crisis

Hotline/Listening Line, Safe Place Grief Support Group, Lifeline Prison Program at the Men's

Intake Center of the ACI, and its Youth and Teen and Community Education Programs; and

     WHEREAS, Also during the past 38 years, The Samaritans have received more than

500,000 calls helping those in a crisis, recovering from a crisis, and those who have recovered as

well as those in care, out of care, and most importantly helping those for whom care will never be

an option; and

     WHEREAS, In 2003, The Samaritans launched its first website, hosting more than 6,500

visitors, and in 2014, the site hosted 66,481 visitors and had more than 1,018,572 hits; and

     WHEREAS, The Samaritans of Rhode Island have been helping persons in crisis and

those whose lives have been affected by suicide for almost four decades, and their altruistic

endeavors are eminently worthy of our utmost admiration and gratitude ; now, therefore be it

      RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby honors and applauds The Samaritans for caring and listening, and

doing their part to save and brighten the lives of individuals in need; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Board of Directors of The Samaritans, Inc.,

of Rhode Island.

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LC001728

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