Declare Self-Injury Awareness Day

Senate Resolution No. 448 BY: Senator BIAGGI memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 1, 2019, as Self-injury Awareness Day in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official days that are set aside to increase awareness of issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 1, 2019, as Self-injury Awareness Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Self-injury Awareness Day; and WHEREAS, Self-injury Awareness Day strives to educate people who do not self-injure, and reach out to people who do; and WHEREAS, Self-injury or self-harming is when a person deliberately hurts themselves physically to deal with the emotional pain they are suffering such as low self-esteem, trauma, perfectionism and abuse; and WHEREAS, Each year, more than two million cases of self-injury are reported in the United States; 90% of self-injury starts during adolescence around the age of 14, however, people of both sexes and all ages, races and backgrounds may self-harm to protect themselves; and WHEREAS, It is essential that there be greater public awareness of self-injury and self-harming; awareness leads to understanding and empathy, banishing judgment and fear, and reducing the number of people who feel alone and suffer in silence; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 1, 2019, as Self-Injury Awareness Day in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.