“In April 2001, the Nevada state legislature passed a bill commending REM for this track on their classic 1992 album Automatic for the People. They (the legislature) said that it sent a positive and hopeful message to teenagers who might be contemplating suicide.”
Joint Sponsors: Senators Titus, Amodei, Care, Carlton, Coffin, Jacobsen, James, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, O’Connell, O’Donnell, Porter, Raggio, Rawson, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer, Townsend, Washington and Wiener
FILE NUMBER 58
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION — Commending the musical group R.E.M. for encouraging the prevention of teen suicide in one of their songs.
Whereas, Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States and the third leading cause of death among teenagers 15 to 19 years of age; and
Whereas, The national suicide rate has more than tripled in the last four decades, a tragedy in itself and a source of devastation to millions of family members and loved ones; and
Whereas, The alarming prevalence of suicide in the United States has even caused the Surgeon General in 1999 to publicly recognize suicide as a public health problem; and
Whereas, According to the National Center for Health Statistics, Nevada has the highest rate of suicide per capita in this country; and
Whereas, In 1999, 20 percent of high school students reported having seriously considered or having attempted suicide during the previous 12 months, and 8 percent of those who seriously considered suicide actually attempted suicide; and
Whereas, Teen suicide is one of the most disruptive and tragic events a community can experience as it mourns society’s loss of the unique contribution that could have been made by that particular person; and
Whereas, The greatest tragedy is that research shows us that 95 percent of all teen suicides are preventable; and
Whereas, It is morally imperative that the residents of this state do all that is possible to aid in the prevention of teen suicide and assist depressed or despondent youth to gain a healthy perspective of their problems; and
Whereas, In 1992, the musical group R.E.M. produced a song, “Everybody Hurts,” to make others aware that everybody feels pain and gets depressed, but that a person can get through the pain and depression without resorting to suicide and
Whereas, R.E.M. used the medium of rock and roll music to reach out to troubled teenagers worldwide in a positive and effective way with the message “hold on”; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate Concurring, That the musical group R.E.M. is hereby commended for addressing this issue directly and for effectively suggesting a different perspective to persons who are contemplating suicide; and be it further
Resolved, That the residents of the State of Nevada take notice of the alarming prevalence of teen suicide in the State of Nevada and do all they can to help others hold on to life; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit a copy of this resolution to the musical group R.E.M.”
I once heard a story that a local politician was going door-to-door to speak to her constituents. At one door she met a man who, when asked what she could do as a politician to help him, he said that if she really wanted to do something meaningful to him, it would be to give the band R.E.M. recognition for their song “Everybody Hurts” which really helped him personally when he was struggling, and he knew it had helped others who were contemplating suicide. This politician then went forward and introduced some sort of acknowledgment of the song.
I tried Googling for this story, but I can’t seem to find any mention of it (now that the Google results are overwhelmed with Trump’s using the song in an insulting video) but I do so hope it is true.
Found it!
From: https://everything2.com/title/Everybody+Hurts
“In April 2001, the Nevada state legislature passed a bill commending REM for this track on their classic 1992 album Automatic for the People. They (the legislature) said that it sent a positive and hopeful message to teenagers who might be contemplating suicide.”
From: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Statutes/71st/Stats2001R02.html
“ 2001 Statutes of Nevada, Page 3395
Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 26–Assemblymen Ohrenschall, Anderson, Angle, Arberry, Bache, Beers, Berman, Brower, Brown, Buckley, Carpenter, Cegavske, Chowning, Claborn, Collins, de Braga, Dini, Freeman, Gibbons, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Gustavson, Hettrick, Humke, Koivisto, Lee, Leslie, Manendo, Marvel, McClain, Mortenson, Neighbors, Nolan, Oceguera, Parks, Parnell, Perkins, Price, Smith, Tiffany, Von Tobel and Williams
Joint Sponsors: Senators Titus, Amodei, Care, Carlton, Coffin, Jacobsen, James, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, O’Connell, O’Donnell, Porter, Raggio, Rawson, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer, Townsend, Washington and Wiener
FILE NUMBER 58
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION — Commending the musical group R.E.M. for encouraging the prevention of teen suicide in one of their songs.
Whereas, Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States and the third leading cause of death among teenagers 15 to 19 years of age; and
Whereas, The national suicide rate has more than tripled in the last four decades, a tragedy in itself and a source of devastation to millions of family members and loved ones; and
Whereas, The alarming prevalence of suicide in the United States has even caused the Surgeon General in 1999 to publicly recognize suicide as a public health problem; and
Whereas, According to the National Center for Health Statistics, Nevada has the highest rate of suicide per capita in this country; and
Whereas, In 1999, 20 percent of high school students reported having seriously considered or having attempted suicide during the previous 12 months, and 8 percent of those who seriously considered suicide actually attempted suicide; and
Whereas, Teen suicide is one of the most disruptive and tragic events a community can experience as it mourns society’s loss of the unique contribution that could have been made by that particular person; and
Whereas, The greatest tragedy is that research shows us that 95 percent of all teen suicides are preventable; and
Whereas, It is morally imperative that the residents of this state do all that is possible to aid in the prevention of teen suicide and assist depressed or despondent youth to gain a healthy perspective of their problems; and
Whereas, In 1992, the musical group R.E.M. produced a song, “Everybody Hurts,” to make others aware that everybody feels pain and gets depressed, but that a person can get through the pain and depression without resorting to suicide and
Whereas, R.E.M. used the medium of rock and roll music to reach out to troubled teenagers worldwide in a positive and effective way with the message “hold on”; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate Concurring, That the musical group R.E.M. is hereby commended for addressing this issue directly and for effectively suggesting a different perspective to persons who are contemplating suicide; and be it further
Resolved, That the residents of the State of Nevada take notice of the alarming prevalence of teen suicide in the State of Nevada and do all they can to help others hold on to life; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit a copy of this resolution to the musical group R.E.M.”
I once heard a story that a local politician was going door-to-door to speak to her constituents. At one door she met a man who, when asked what she could do as a politician to help him, he said that if she really wanted to do something meaningful to him, it would be to give the band R.E.M. recognition for their song “Everybody Hurts” which really helped him personally when he was struggling, and he knew it had helped others who were contemplating suicide. This politician then went forward and introduced some sort of acknowledgment of the song.
I tried Googling for this story, but I can’t seem to find any mention of it (now that the Google results are overwhelmed with Trump’s using the song in an insulting video) but I do so hope it is true.