Petition to the Governor of the State of Utah, the Lt. Governor, all Mayors of the State of Utah, all Utah State Senators, all Utah House of Representatives, The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the LDS Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the LDS Church Presiding Bishopric, and all other public servants and all leaders of Faith within the State of Utah:

Utah’s teen suicide rate has nearly tripled since 2007, and is now the leading cause of death among Utah’s 10-17 year olds. Utah’s (per capita) rate is nearly double the national average.

Recently the CDC has stated “a nationally representative study of adolescents in grades 7-12 found that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide as their heterosexual peers.”

To see the alarming chart of Utah teen suicide rate v national suicide rate over the last 15 years, click here.

We are petitioning the following:

For Utah’s Governor and Lt. Governor to immediately, clearly, and loudly declare the Utah teen suicide rate is a public health crisis, and to order the Utah Department of Health to immediately study this issue. For the LDS Church to dedicate as much money, time, resources, and passion to ending teen suicide as the LDS Church has dedicated in their fight of same-sex marriage. For the Utah State Department of Public Health to immediately, clearly, and loudly declare the Utah teen suicide rate a public health crisis of epidemic proportions. For the Utah State Legislature to immediately, clearly, and loudly declare the Utah teen suicide rate a public health crisis. For the Salt Lake City Mayor and Salt Lake County Mayor (along with their respective councils) to immediately, clearly and loudly declare the Utah teen suicide rate a public health crisis. For all leaders of Faith within Utah to immediately, clearly, and loudly declare the Utah teen suicide rate a public health crisis. For the LDS Church to immediately form a committee, inclusive of members from the LGBTQ community, to seriously study causes of Utah’s high suicide rate, and to come up with solutions that will drastically reduce these deaths. For the State of Utah to immediately form a task force inclusive of all human rights organizations, the LGBT community, churches, homeless centers, and health organizations, to study this issue and come up with solutions.

The Data:

In 2005, the rate in Utah was 3.4 per 100,000. A state report released this month shows Utah’s rate was 8.5 per 100,000 in 2014 (the most recent data available).

Utah has double the rate (per capita) of teen suicides than the national average. This is a true public-health crisis and must be addressed immediately by all state, county, city, and religious communities. NO ONE is exempt. This state, and our country, is experiencing an epidemic of grand proportions. We are truly in a state of war.

“In 2013, suicide surpassed unintentional injuries to become the leading cause of death among youth ages 10-19 in Utah.” [Utah Department of Public Health] In 2013, 14.1 percent of students in grades 8, 10, and 12 reported that during the past year they had seriously considered suicide. [Utah Department of Health]

An average of 501 Utahns die from suicide and 3,968 Utahns attempt suicide each year. On average, 37 youth in Utah die from suicide and 942 are injured in a suicide attempt each year . [Utah Department of Health]

Why Does This Matter?

1. Many people feel one cause of the high suicide rate in Utah is due to the pressures and anti-gay sentiments from the LDS church. But NO church or religion is exempt from this if exclusion is part of the doctrine. Recently the CDC has stated “a nationally representative study of adolescents in grades 7-12 found that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide as their heterosexual peers.”

2. Political science professor Benjamin Knoll, analyzed in considerable detail the alleged link between Mormonism and teen suicide. He concluded, based upon his data, that “Youth in the 15-19 age group who live in states with heavy Mormon populations are at higher risk for suicide. “ Knoll concludes his summary by saying that the research “is not intended to condemn. Rather, it is presented to contribute to the conversation on this important topic that literally has life-and-death implications. It is clear that there is a problem. The more information we have available to us the sooner we can craft an effective solution.” [Benjamin Knoll is the John Marshall Harlan Associate Professor of Politics at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.]

3. Lives are being lost. EVERY SINGLE DAY. The data says that these are primarily young lives in the teen to early 30s age group.

4. These are the lives of our future generation. Our leaders. Our educated. Our creative souls. We are eliminating and losing the world’s best on all levels.

5. Families are losing their loved ones daily. The anguish and pain associated with those losses cannot be expressed in mere words. We must take action together and immediately.

6. Suicide is the number one cause of death of all Utah youth. This is not the case on a national level. This rate has doubled since 2011.

Who this petition will be delivered to:

Utah's Governor , Utah's Lt Governor, LDS Church First Presidency, LDS Church Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, LDS Church Presiding Bishopric, Leaders of Faith within Utah, Utah State Health Department, Utah Senators, Utah House of Representatives, Salt Lake City Mayor, Salt Lake City Council, Salt Lake County Mayor, Salt Lake County Council

Links to sources, additional information and data http://www.health.utah.gov/vipp/teens/youth-suicide/

http://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth.htm

http://www.sltrib.com/news/4075258-155/utah-officials-unsure-why-youth-suicide

http://rationalfaiths.com/the-lgbtq-mormon-crisis-responding-to-the-empirical-research-on-suicide/

http://rationalfaiths.com/mormon-religious-context-and-lgbt-youth-suicides-an-additional-empirical-analysis/

http://religionnews.com/2016/03/12/study-shows-link-teen-suicide-mormon-populations/

@UTpolitics @LDSChurch @GovHerbert @GaryHerbertNews @SpencerJCox @jackiebiskupski @BiskupskiJackie @UTSenate @Utahsenate @UtahReps @ThomasSMonson @LDSApostles @EyringHB @UchtdorfDF @BallardMRussell @NelsonRussellM @OaksDallinH @HalesRobertDean @HollandJeffreyR @BednarDavidA @CookQuentinL @ChristoffDTodd @AndersenNeilL @RonaldARasband @StevensonGaryE @DaleGRenlund @UtahDepOfHealth

#UTPOL #LDSChurch #SuicidePrevention #WeExistLGBT



