The need for suicide prevention is obvious. Suicide is an epidemic in America today touching people of every age, culture, social and religious identity. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S. (over 32,000 fatalities a year), the 3rd leading cause of death of American teenagers and the 2nd of college students. Most people would be shocked to learn that more Americans take their own lives each year than die by AIDS or homocide. The good news is that, since the vast majority of people who attempt suicide do something to let others know their intentions before they act (experts say as many as 75%), suicide can be prevented through awareness, education and training.The Samaritans of New York is the New York City branch of the world's oldest and largest humanitarian crisis response network with over 400 branches in 40 countries. A non-religious, non-profit organization, Samaritans mission is to provide immediate and ongoing emotional support to people who are in crisis or have lost a loved one to suicide; to teach lay and professional caregivers and service providers the most effective methods to prevent suicide; and to make caregivers, service providers, educators, those in government, industry and the general public aware of the public health problem of suicide and the means to prevent it.