Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 26–Assemblymen Ohrenschall, Anderson, Angle, Arberry, Bache, Beers, Berman, Brower, Brown, Buckley, Carpenter, Cegavske, Chowning, Claborn, Collins, de Braga, Dini, Freeman, Gibbons, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Gustavson, Hettrick, Humke, Koivisto, Lee, Leslie, Manendo, Marvel, McClain, Mortenson, Neighbors, Nolan, Oceguera, Parks, Parnell, Perkins, Price, Smith, Tiffany, Von Tobel and Williams

 

April 19, 2001

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Joint Sponsors: Senators Titus, Amodei, Care, Carlton, Coffin, Jacobsen, James, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, O’Connell, O’Donnell, Porter, Raggio, Rawson, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer, Townsend, Washington and Wiener

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Read and Adopted

 

SUMMARY—Commends musical group R.E.M. for encouraging prevention of teen suicide in one of their songs. (BDR R‑106)

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

Assembly Concurrent RESOLUTION—Commending the musical group R.E.M. for encouraging the prevention of teen suicide in one of their songs.

 

1-1    Whereas, Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United

1-2  States and the third leading cause of death among teenagers 15 to 19 years

1-3  of age; and

1-4    Whereas, The national suicide rate has more than tripled in the last

1-5  four decades, a tragedy in itself and a source of devastation to millions of

1-6  family members and loved ones; and

1-7    Whereas, The alarming prevalence of suicide in the United States has

1-8  even caused the Surgeon General in 1999 to publicly recognize suicide as a

1-9  public health problem; and

1-10  Whereas, According to the National Center for Health Statistics,

1-11  Nevada has the highest rate of suicide per capita in this country; and

1-12  Whereas, In 1999, 20 percent of high school students reported having

1-13  seriously considered or having attempted suicide during the previous 12

1-14  months, and 8 percent of those who seriously considered suicide actually

1-15  attempted suicide; and

2-1    Whereas, Teen suicide is one of the most disruptive and tragic events a

2-2  community can experience as it mourns society’s loss of the unique

2-3  contribution that could have been made by that particular person; and

2-4    Whereas, The greatest tragedy is that research shows us that 95

2-5  percent of all teen suicides are preventable; and

2-6    Whereas, It is morally imperative that the residents of this state do all

2-7  that is possible to aid in the prevention of teen suicide and assist depressed

2-8  or despondent youth to gain a healthy perspective of their problems; and

2-9    Whereas, In 1992, the musical group R.E.M. produced a song,

2-10  “Everybody Hurts,” to make others aware that everybody feels pain and

2-11  gets depressed, but that a person can get through the pain and depression

2-12  without resorting to suicide and

2-13  Whereas, R.E.M. used the medium of rock and roll music to reach out

2-14  to troubled teenagers worldwide in a positive and effective way with the

2-15  message “hold on”; now, therefore, be it

2-16  Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

2-17  Concurring, That the musical group R.E.M. is hereby commended for

2-18  addressing this issue directly and for effectively suggesting a different

2-19  perspective to persons who are contemplating suicide; and be it further

2-20  Resolved, That the residents of the State of Nevada take notice of the

2-21  alarming prevalence of teen suicide in the State of Nevada and do all they

2-22  can to help others hold on to life; and be it further

2-23  Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit

2-24  a copy of this resolution to the musical group R.E.M.

 

2-25  H