HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSIONER RECOGNIZES WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY
To commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day, Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Jennifer Velez today issued the following statement:“Suicide is a tragic and desperate act that is completely preventable. We need to do all we can to identify and outreach individuals in crisis so we can prevent these heartbreaking tragedies and get people the support and treatment they need. Even though New Jersey has the second lowest suicide rate in the nation, among males 45 and older the rates are higher than any other age group. Today provides us an opportunity to raise awareness and save lives. DHS continues to promote the use of New Jersey’s first state-based suicide prevention hotline, NJ HOPELINE, which has received close to 25,000 calls since it was launched in May. Trained staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 855-654-6735.”
