Denton County proclaims Sept. 25 Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Denton County Commissioners Court on (date not specified) adopted a proclamation recognizing Sept. 25 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and urged local agencies, schools and community groups to increase awareness, reduce stigma and expand access to mental-health resources.

The proclamation cites Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data noting more than 48,000 U.S. deaths by suicide in 2023 and calls on county residents and institutions to promote prevention strategies. Pam (presenter) urged people in crisis to contact the national crisis line at 988 and provided a local crisis number mentioned during the presentation.

The court unanimously approved the proclamation after a brief presentation and remarks from commissioners praising mental-health responders and crisis-line staff. Commissioner Williams said, "mental health and all those things like, suicide awareness and everything else are is quite frankly the most important issue that we have to deal with." Commissioners thanked providers and called for continued community support.

The proclamation text calls on "all of its citizens, government agencies, public and private institutions, business and schools to increase awareness and understanding of mental health, reduce stigma, and support those who are affected by suicide." The court recorded a motion to adopt the proclamation (mover: Commissioner Feckner; second: Commissioner William) and the motion carried.