We're providing this so that you can ask your State Governors (or what have you) to do the same. We're working on the state right now, but will still work on national later in the year. In the wrding below "Norwich" and "New London" are in Connecticut. Feel free to edit as you need to.
___________________________________________
We are writing to ask you to issue a proclamation officially recognizing March 1st as Self-Injury Awareness Day in Connecticut. Worldwide, persons who are aware of self-injure recognize this day. Currently though only the state of New Mexico and Connecticut's cities of Norwich and New London have officially recognized Self-Injury Awareness Day.
Approximately 2 million people in the United States self-injure annually. Types of self-Injury include: cutting, burning, wrist banging, or hair pulling. It can take other forms as well. People who self-injure can be male or female, wealthy or homeless, and of any race. It recognizes no barrier. It is also often misunderstood. People commonly think that when someone self-injures they are attempting suicide. However, individuals may self-injure because they are feeling overwhelmed with emotions and are trying to deal with them. Growing up the person may not have received validation for feeling emotions and didn’t learn how to cope with emotions. The use of self injury then became a way of trying to deal with overwhelming emotions.
Public awareness is one way to shed light on this growing problem in an effort to reduce the stigma and help reduce some of the myths. It can also help people who self-injure get and/or find treatment such as individual and/or group therapy and medications. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) which is widely available, has been proven to be an effective therapeutic approach for treating Self-injurious behavior.
The _______________________ at the ___________________ will be holding a informational fair on March 1, 2008 about Self-Injury. The group is hoping to educate the public about Self-Injury on that day. The times for the informational fair will follow. Governor ____ is invited to attend. If you have any further questions or would like the wording of any proclamations that have been issues regarding this day please feel free to contact me at the information provided or ________ at _________. Your assistance by proclaiming March 1st as Self-Injury Awareness Day will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Thank you
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