Senate Resolution No. 40
(By Senators Sprouse, By Request, Stollings, Foster and Kessler)

Designating March 1, 2007, as "Self-Injury Awareness Day".
Whereas, Self-injury, also called self-harm, self-inflicted violence or self-mutilation, is a coping mechanism used by an estimated one percent of the United States population; and
Whereas, Self-injury is seldom talked about and often misunderstood, resulting in those who self-injure being treated unfairly or insensitively by police, doctors, therapists and emergency personnel; and
Whereas, Self-injurers, despite public perceptions, are generally not psychotic and present little danger to others; and
Whereas, Effective treatments for self-harm do exist, although many professionals may not be aware of them; and
Whereas, Raising professional and public awareness of the facts about self-injury will help dispel the fears, myths and taboos that surround the subject that make it difficult for the people who self-injure to obtain effective help; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby designates March 1, 2007, as "Self- Injury Awareness Day"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the American Self-Harm Information Clearinghouse.