West Valley City proclaims Nov. 22 World Suicide Prevention Day; AFSP outlines survivor events

West Valley City declared Nov. 22, 2025, World Suicide Prevention Day as the council presented a proclamation and invited Katrina Strobel of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to accept it.

"Our survivor of suicide loss day, we have 8 across Utah total," Strobel said, describing gatherings intended "to bring those who have lost somebody to suicide together, for community, for hope, to share their stories, and keep their loved ones alive in memory and in spirit." The proclamation cited national and state suicide data, including about 49,000 deaths nationally in 2023 and 696 deaths in Utah that year, and said suicide is preventable when bystanders recognize warning signs and know where to get help.

The proclamation notes community partnerships, including the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the statewide "Live On" campaign, and references a local event on Nov. 22 titled "Survivors of Suicide Loss Day." The council handed Strobel a copy of the proclamation and paused for photographs.

The council did not take further action on the proclamation but the presentation highlighted community resources and the role of nonprofits and city partners in prevention and post-loss support. The proclamation recommends awareness and education; no new city funding or ordinance was attached to the declaration.

The city’s next procedural step is routine: the proclamation is entered into the record and community partners were thanked for their work.