Prevention of Suicide in Adolescents Essay - 1317 Words

The community impact, which includes national, state, and community level, is crucial for suicide prevention in adolescents. By having the community involved, it allows a more effective prevention plan, along with measures on how to properly handle the situation more efficiently. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Surgeon General and National Action Alliance for Suicide, revised the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP) in 2012. In which, they classified suicide prevention interventions into two categories: prevention targeted at the level of the individual and prevention targeted at the level of the population. (HHS, 2012). To target at the level of the individual, the NSPP emphasized the role†¦show more content†¦In which, they should provide the federal work force with information on suicide prevention along with ensuring the NSSP is being promoted and is included overall. And lastly, but most importantly, the federal level shou ld be dedicated to advancing the NSSP. According to HHS (2012), the state level should appoint a lead agency to be the head department for their state. The agency would not only coordinate and convent the public and private stakeholders, but also assess their needs and resources. They would also develop and implement a strategic suicide prevention plan for their state. The state level would also be a part of promoting mental health and emotional well-being that combines traditional and new media. This could be done by developing and implementing an effective communications strategy. Finally, the state level should spread their recommendations for reporting on suicide to news organizations. By doing so, it would help the community level with preventing the spread of suicide among adolescents through media. According to HHS (2012), the community level should have easy access for treatment in his or her’s community without the fear of being judged; properly share media informati on, especially when it comes to suicide; provide an efficient suicide awareness campaign that providesShow MoreRelatedThe Suicide And Suicide Prevention1534 Words   |  7 PagesSuicide is defined as death by an act of self-infliction as an effort to end one’s life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013), suicide was the tenth leading cause of death for all ages among Americans in 2013. It is the second leading cause of death among fifteen to twenty-nine year olds globally stated by World Health Organization (2015). Suicide being ranked that high on the lists of causes for deaths is astonishing because each of those deaths was preventable.Read MorePrevention, Intervention, And Treatment Options1560 Words   |  7 PagesPrevention, Intervention, and Treatment Options According to McWhirter et al. (2017), the act of suicide is neither comfortable nor easy; however, experiencing a series of painful events lessens the fear of death, which prepares individuals for attempting to take their own lives. Establishing a framework of evidence-based preventions, interventions, and treatment options provides opportunities to help at-risk youth and their families find solutions to difficult problems that they might encounterRead MoreSuicidal Behavior And Suicidal Ideation1321 Words   |  6 Pagesas significant health concerns among adolescents and you adults†. In fact, globally, suicide impacts adolescents making it the second leading cause of death. As a result, researchers continue examining aspects associated with suicide attempts fir preventative purposes. Furthermore, understanding the definition a suicide attempt in adolescents helps bring clarity to the importance of this issue. Anju and Subha define an adolescent suicide attempt as â€Å"am a dolescent (13-19 years of age) who had made aRead MoreSuicide Is The Point At Which An Individual Takes Their Own Life Away1267 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction and Description Suicide is the point at which an individual takes their own life away. When we consider suicide we don t think about a child committing suicide. We regularly associate suicide with adults, so when we hear about suicide in children it is quite shocking. However, it does occur and it is quite common. In an article, it discusses how girls are more prone to commit suicide than boys. Also, the most finished suicides are from Native Americans. Be that as it may, white AmericansRead MoreSetting Up Sucide Prevention Programs1427 Words   |  6 Pagessex education programs, but suicide, the third leading cause of adolescent deaths (Caine 1), is practically ignored. Many schools only offer hot lines for suicidal students. While some schools have implemented suicide prevention programs and the government has recognized teenage suicide as a growing problem, effective solutions need to be discovered and funded to prevent these catastrophic deaths. The U.S. federal government should develop and f und suicide prevention programs in high schools, whileRead Moreâ€Å"Dying Before Their Time: The Startling Trends in Adolescent Suicide†1217 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), suicide is the third leading cause of death for adolescents aged 15-24 years old. This calculates to 33,000 adolescents killing themselves each year (CDC, 2010). The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), reported that suicide amongst all individuals nation wide has declined over all, but despite the decline, adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 have shown suicide rates that has increased by 6 percent (NCSLRead MoreSuicide : The Suicide Rate For Young Individuals Essay1254 Words   |  6 PagesSuicide, otherwise known as completed suicide, can be described as a deliberate act to inflict harm upon oneself that results in death (Wagner, 2009). Suicide has been recognized as a significant public health problem among the adol escent community (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015; Jurich, 2007). Suicide has been ranked as the third leading cause of death amongst young individuals aged 15 through 24, with an average of 4,600 deaths annually (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;Read More†¢Title: â€Å"Reduce Suicide Attempts By Adolescents†. †¢Dates1716 Words   |  7 Pages†¢ Title: â€Å"Reduce Suicide Attempts by Adolescents† †¢ Dates of Implementation: January 26, 2017 and March 8-9, 2017 †¢ Healthy People 2020 Topic: Mental Health and Mental Disorders †¢ Healthy People 2020 Objective: MHMD-2: Reduce suicide attempts by adolescents (Healthy People, 2020, n.d.) †¢ My SLEP action plan is designed to educate the students of Boaz High School Health Science Department on the causes, signs and prevention of suicide attempts. I plan to make a pamphlet to hand out to all studentsRead MoreSuicide Should Never Be Cast Aside1337 Words   |  6 PagesSuicide is deliberately taking one’s own life, in the United States this continues to be a serious problem and is the third leading cause of death among adolescents. With rates of suicide among young people doubling over the past fifty years. Teenagers who experience a sudden trauma growing up can intensify negative feelings and for some teens suicide is the solution they turn to escape their stresses and problems. One of the myths of suicidal talk amongst adolescents is that it is often a ploy usedRead MoreHealth Care Challenges when Working with Adolescents Essay1174 Words   |  5 Pageswith the adolescent population we have many health care challenges. Adolescents experiences profound p hysical changes which occur rapidly. These include increased rate of bone and muscle growth, sex specific changes and development of the sexual reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. â€Å"†Changes are created by hormonal changes within the body when the hypothalamus begins to produce gnoadotropin-releasing hormones† (Potter Perry, 2005, p. 205). This is a time when adolescents become

Should Cigarettes Be Banned in the U.S. - 1444 Words

Tobacco has been around in the world for over 2.5 million years. It was not until a few hundred years ago when the tobacco industry decided to put these crops into use and conjure up tobacco products for the community. A popular tobacco product in society is cigarettes, as they are cheap and simple to use. As long as one is over eighteen, acquiring cigarettes is a straightforward process for a reasonable price, albeit the sin tax. It was not until recently when cigarettes became widely controversial due to the plant containing nicotine, an addictive drug to the body. Aside from containing nicotine and other hazardous chemicals to the body, cigarettes also cause a whole host of health implications to the user and the people around him or†¦show more content†¦Moreover, it stated that the test subjects inhaled an average of one cigarette per day through second hand smoking. But, this information was proven to be a puffery, as it was eleven times higher than the normal intake. F urthermore, a report in the British Medical Journal proved that after analyzing data from more than 100,000 Californians from 1959 through 1997, they concluded that â€Å"secondhand smoke has little if any negative impact on morality.† All of the sources also do not state the quantity of smoke one must inhale to increase the risks. A reasonable person would not loaf around in a casino or bar, inhaling all of the smoke around him or her. Sidenote, casinos and bars typically have a smoke-free zone for the non-smokers, thus avoiding the intolerable atmosphere. One could argue about parents smoking in their own residence and affecting their kids. But, the dangers of secondhand smoking are common knowledge everyone is aware of. If parents smoke in their own homes, knowing that it will affect their kids, then they are not deemed to be fit as parents in the first place. This would eventually cause the kids to require hospitalization for the damages the neglectful parent(s) has commi tted. If smoking were to become banned in the U.S., history would repeat itself with the Prohibition era. It began in 1920 when the U.S.Show MoreRelatedShould Cigarettes Be Banned in the U.S.?1400 Words   |  6 PagesShould Cigarettes Be Banned in the U.S.? Tobacco has been around in the world for over 2.5 million years. It was not until a few hundred years ago when the tobacco industry decided to put these crops into use and conjure up tobacco products for the community. A popular tobacco product in society is cigarettes, as they are cheap and simple to use. As long as one is over eighteen, acquiring cigarettes is a straightforward process for a reasonable price, albeit the sin tax. It was not until recentlyRead MoreThe Production of Cigarettes Should Be Banned Across the U.S1132 Words   |  5 PagesOne thing I hate is when someone is walking in front of me smoking a cigarette and next thing you know, BOOM the cigarette smoke comes right to my face! If you are that smoker it created many health problems and chances are you have to take many medications every morning before your day begins, does it become annoying? Smoking is an activity that has been around for many years, it helps reduce the stresses of life and put people in a com fortable position that enables them to cope with the hecticRead MoreEssay about Cigarettes Should be Banned939 Words   |  4 PagesSmoking cigarettes is common among most adults in the United States, yet it is one of the most dangerous things you can do to yourself. Many people feel that smoking should be made illegal. The reason they may feel this way is because it is very harmful to your health and can lead to death. I strongly agree that cigarettes should be banned from being sold and produced because to me they’re considered a dangerous drug. The first reason that supports my claim of smoking cigarettes should be bannedRead More Smoking should be banned all over the United States Essay1657 Words   |  7 Pagessome countries have placed a ban in public places such as Britain and the United States. However, to prevent the costs of smoking from rising and causing a larger number of deaths around the U.S, strict measures would need to be taken. I believe that the production of cigarettes should be banned across the U.S to prevent any diseases from occurring which would save thousands of lives. As mentioned before, numerous diseases have been associated with smoking. Diseases such as lung cancer, mouthRead MoreTobacco Smoking1372 Words   |  6 Pagessome countries have placed a ban in public places such as Britain and the United States. However, to prevent the costs of smoking from rising and causing a larger number of deaths around the U.S, strict measures would need to be taken. I believe that the production of cigarettes should be banned across the U.S to prevent any diseases from occurring which would save thousands of lives. As mentioned before, numerous diseases have been associated with smoking. Diseases such as lung cancer, mouth cancerRead MoreShould Cigarette Smoking Be Banned?899 Words   |  4 Pages Should Cigarette Smoking Be Banned Whether or not cigarette smoking should be banned completely, has become an object of controversy in many countries. Should cigarette smoking be banned for everyone in the United States? Smoking tobacco products have been around for decades and in many different forms. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deathsRead MoreShould Cigarette Smoking Be Banned?925 Words   |  4 PagesStates (U.S.), yet more than 45 million Americans still smoke cigarettes. The health threat posed by tobacco has been accepted by scientists since the 17th century. In 1928, studies linked smoking to cancer. In 1964, the first Surgeon General’s report on cigarette smoking summarized the evidence that tobacco poses serious health risks for those who use it. Cigarette smoking should be banned in the U.S. because smoking causes damage throughout the bod y, it is hazardous to non-smokers, cigarettes costRead MoreBans on Smoking in Public Areas1476 Words   |  6 Pagespeople that die because of smoking each year! Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. Each year more than 480,000 people die because of smoking. This is just one of the many reasons why I believe that cigarette smoking should be banned in public areas. I will argue this point in three ways. First, I will argue that the health effects of smoking are so harmful that cigarettes should not be allowed in public areas. Next, I will argue that the negative effects go beyond just healthRead MoreSmoking Essay1600 Words   |  7 Pagesand the most common, cigarette smoke. Smoking cigarettes doesn’t only affect the person who smokes but also the people around them. I believe that smoking should be banned from the United States. Even though this is a very unacceptable issue to the majority of the country, there have been smoking bans that were implem ented in early years to insure the safety of the people in businesses, and restaurant environments. Even though smoking has been banned in these facilities, we should expand these lawsRead MoreTaking a Look at Smoking1682 Words   |  7 Pagesthe drug known as nicotine. The main reason people smoke a cigarette is to ingest the drug nicotine. Nicotine triggers the release of dopamine, which stimulates a general good feeling in the body, and epinephrine, more commonly known as adrenaline. Along with with the increased energy and good feeling, cigarettes have a small array of other benefits. Smoking suppresses a person’s appetite which leads to smokers having less obesity than

The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 10 Free Essays

string(22) " painted a blood red\." I Don’t Know How This Works After some more lifting in the basement, I put on my trash bag and run my ten miles. Afterward, I shower, spray some of my father’s cologne, and walk into the mist – just like Mom taught me to do back in high school. I roll on some underarm deodorant and then don my new khakis and my Hank Baskett jersey. We will write a custom essay sample on The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 10 or any similar topic only for you Order Now When I ask my mother how I look, she says, â€Å"Very handsome. So handsome. But do you really think you should wear your Eagles jersey to a dinner party? You can wear one of the Gap shirts I bought you, or you can borrow one of your father’s polo shirts.† â€Å"It’s okay,† I say, and smile confidently. â€Å"Dr. Patel said wearing this shirt was a good idea.† â€Å"Did he?† my mom says with a laugh, and then she removes an arrangement of flowers and a bottle of white wine from the refrigerator. â€Å"What’s this?† â€Å"Give these to Veronica and tell her I said thanks. Ronnie’s been a good friend to you.† And then Mom looks like she is going to cry again. I kiss her goodbye, and with my hands full of flowers and wine, I walk down the street and across Knight’s Park to Ronnie’s house. Ronnie answers the door wearing a shirt and tie, which makes me feel like Dr. Patel was wrong after all and I am underdressed. But Ronnie looks at my new jersey, checks the name on the back – probably to make sure I am not wearing an outdated Freddie Mitchell jersey – and says, â€Å"Hank Baskett is the man! Where did you get that jersey this early in the season? It’s great!† which makes me feel so much better. We follow the meaty aroma through their swanky living room and their swanky dining room to the kitchen, where Veronica is feeding Emily, whom I am surprised to see looking much older than a newborn baby. â€Å"Hank Baskett’s in the house,† Ronnie says. â€Å"Who?† Veronica answers, but she smiles when she sees the flowers and the wine. â€Å"Pour moi?† She stares at my puffy cheek for a second, but doesn’t mention it, which I appreciate. I hand her what my mother has sent, and Veronica kisses me on my un-puffy cheek. â€Å"Welcome home, Pat,† she says, which surprises me because she sounds sincere. â€Å"I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve invited someone else to dinner,† Veronica adds. She winks at me and then lifts the lid off the single pot on the stove, releasing a warm tomato and basil aroma. â€Å"Who?† I ask. â€Å"You’ll see,† she says without looking up from stirring her sauce. Before I can say more, Ronnie is lifting Emily from her high chair, saying, â€Å"Meet Uncle Pat,† which sounds strange until I realize he is talking about me. â€Å"Say hello to Uncle Pat, Emily.† She waves her little hand at me, and then I have Emily in my arms. Her dark eyes examine my face, and she smiles as though she approves. â€Å"Pap,† she says, pointing at my nose. â€Å"See how smart my girl is, Uncle Pat,† Ronnie says, petting the silky black hair on Emily’s head. â€Å"She already knows your name.† Emily smells like the mashed carrots that coat her cheeks until Ronnie wipes them clean with a wet napkin. I have to admit that Emily is a cute kid, and I instantly understand why Ronnie has written me so many letters about his daughter – why he loves her so much. I start to think about having children with Nikki someday and I become so happy that I give little Emily a kiss on the forehead, as if she were Nikki’s baby and I was her father. And then I kiss Emily’s forehead again and again, until she giggles. â€Å"Beer?† Ronnie says. â€Å"I’m not really supposed to drink, because I’m on medications and – â€Å" â€Å"Beer,† Ronnie says, and then we are drinking beers on his deck as Emily sits in her father’s lap and sucks on a bottle filled with watered-down apple juice. â€Å"It’s good to have a beer with you,† Ronnie says, just before clinking his Yuengling Lager bottle against mine. â€Å"Who’s coming over for dinner?† â€Å"Veronica’s sister, Tiffany.† â€Å"Tiffany and Tommy?† I say, remembering Tiffany’s husband from Ronnie and Veronica’s wedding. â€Å"Just Tiffany.† â€Å"Where’s Tommy?† Ronnie takes a long swig of his beer, looks up at the setting sun, and says, â€Å"Tommy died some time ago.† â€Å"What?† I say, because I hadn’t heard. â€Å"God, I’m sorry to hear that.† â€Å"Just make sure you don’t bring up Tommy tonight, okay?† â€Å"Sure,† I say, and then drink a few large gulps of my beer. â€Å"So how did he die?† â€Å"How did who die?† says a woman’s voice. â€Å"Hi, Tiffany,† Ronnie says, and suddenly she is standing with us on the porch. Tiffany’s wearing a black evening dress, heels, and a diamond necklace, and her makeup and hair look too perfect to me – as if she is trying too hard to look attractive, like old ladies sometimes do. â€Å"You remember Pat, right?† I stand, and as we shake hands, the way Tiffany looks into my eyes makes me feel really funny. We move back into the house, and after some small talk, Tiffany and I are left alone on opposite ends of the living-room couch as Veronica finishes cooking the meal and Ronnie puts Emily to bed. â€Å"You look very pretty tonight,† I say when the silence grows awkward. Before apart time began, I never ever complimented Nikki on her looks, and I think this really hurt her self-esteem. I figure I can now practice complimenting women on their looks so it will come naturally to me when Nikki returns, although Tiffany really does look pretty, even if she is trying too hard with the makeup. She is a few years older than me, but has a fit body and long, silky black hair. â€Å"What happened to your cheek?† Tiffany asks without looking at me. â€Å"Weight-lifting accident.† She just stares at her hands, which are folded in her lap. Her nails have been recently painted a blood red. You read "The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 10" in category "Essay examples" â€Å"So where are you working now?† I say, thinking this is a safe question. Her nose crinkles, as if I had farted. â€Å"I got fired from my job a few months ago.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Does it really matter?† she says, then stands and walks into the kitchen. I down the remainder of my second beer and wait for Ronnie to come back. Dinner is elegant, with candles going and fancy plates and special silverware, but awkward, as Tiffany and I are completely silent while Veronica and Ronnie talk about us as if we aren’t there. â€Å"Pat is a big history buff. He knows everything about every single U.S. president. Go ahead. Ask him anything,† Ronnie says. When Tiffany fails to look up from her food, Veronica says, â€Å"My sister is a modern dancer and has a recital in two months. You should see her dance, Pat. So beautiful. My God, I wish I could dance like my sister. If she allows us this year, we’re all going to her recital, and you should definitely come with us.† I nod carefully when Tiffany looks up for my response, thinking I’ll go just so I can practice being kind. Also, Nikki would probably want to go to a dance recital, and I want to do the things Nikki likes from now on. â€Å"Pat and I are going to work out together,† Ronnie says. â€Å"Look how fit my buddy is. He puts me to shame. I need to get in that basement with you, Pat.† â€Å"Tiffany loves the shore, don’t you, Tiff? The four of us should take Emily to the beach one weekend in September after the crowds have left. We could have a picnic. Do you like picnics, Pat? Tiffany loves picnics. Don’t you, Tiff?† Ronnie and Veronica trade facts about their guests for almost fifteen minutes straight, and then finally there’s a lull, so I ask if any of them knows anything about the Vet being imploded, and to my surprise Ronnie and Veronica both confirm that it was demolished years ago, just like my father said, which worries me tremendously because I have no memory of this or the years that have supposedly transpired since. I think about asking how long ago Emily was born, because I remember getting a letter and picture from Ronnie soon after her birth, but I get scared and do not ask. â€Å"I hate football,† Tiffany offers. â€Å"More than anything in the world.† And then we all eat without saying anything for a while. The three courses Ronnie had promised turn out to be beer, lasagna garnished with baked asparagus, and key lime pie. All three are great, and I tell Veronica as much – practicing again for when Nikki comes back – to which Veronica replies, â€Å"Did you think my food would be bad?† I know she means it as a joke, but Nikki would have used the question to prove just how witchy Veronica can be. I think about how if Nikki were here, after we went home, we’d stay up talking in bed like we used to when we were both a little drunk – and sitting now at Ronnie’s dinner table, the thought makes me feel sad and happy at the same time. When we finish our pie, Tiffany stands and says, â€Å"I’m tired.† â€Å"But we’ve hardly finished eating,† Veronica says, â€Å"and we have Trivial Pursuit to – â€Å" â€Å"I said I’m tired.† There is a silence. â€Å"Well,† Tiffany finally says, â€Å"are you going to walk me home or what?† It takes me a second to realize that Tiffany is talking to me, but I quickly say, â€Å"Sure.† Since I am practicing being kind now, what else could I have said – right? It is a warm night, but not too sticky. Tiffany and I walk a block before I ask where she lives. â€Å"With my parents, okay?† she says without looking at me. â€Å"Oh.† I realize we are only about four blocks from Mr. and Mrs. Webster’s house. â€Å"You live with your parents too, right?† â€Å"Yeah.† â€Å"So no big whoop.† It is dark, and I guess it’s about 9:30 p.m. With her arms crossing her chest, Tiffany walks pretty quickly in her clicky heels, and soon we are standing in front of her parents’ house. When she turns to face me, I think she is simply going to say good night, but she says, â€Å"Look, I haven’t dated since college, so I don’t know how this works.† â€Å"How what works?† â€Å"I’ve seen the way you’ve been looking at me. Don’t bullshit me, Pat. I live in the addition around back, which is completely separate from the house, so there’s no chance of my parents walking in on us. I hate the fact that you wore a football jersey to dinner, but you can fuck me as long as we turn the lights out first. Okay?† I’m too shocked to speak, and for a long time we just stand there. â€Å"Or not,† Tiffany adds just before she starts crying. I’m so confused that I’m speaking and thinking and worrying all at the same time, not really knowing what to do or say. â€Å"Look, I enjoyed spending time with you, and I think you’re really pretty, but I’m married,† I say, and lift up my wedding ring as proof. â€Å"So am I,† she says, and holds up the diamond on her left hand. I remember what Ronnie told me about her husband having passed away, which makes her a widow and not married, but I do not say anything about that, because I am practicing being kind instead of right, which I learned in therapy and Nikki will like. It makes me really sad to see that Tiffany is still wearing her wedding ring. And then suddenly Tiffany is hugging me so that her face is between my pecs, and she’s crying her makeup onto my new Hank Baskett jersey. I don’t like to be touched by anyone except Nikki, and I really do not want Tiffany to get makeup on the jersey my brother was nice enough to give me – a jersey with real stitchedon letters and numbers – but I surprise myself by hugging Tiffany back. I rest my chin on top of her shiny black hair, scent her perfume, and suddenly I am crying too, which scares me a lot. Our bodies shudder together, and we are all waterworks. We cry together for at least ten minutes, and then she lets go and runs around to the back of her parents’ house. When I arrive home, my father is watching television. The Eagles are playing the Jets in a preseason game I did not know was on. He does not even look at me, probably because I am such a lousy Eagles fan now. My mother tells me that Ronnie called, saying it’s important and I should call him back immediately. â€Å"What happened? What’s on your jersey? Is that makeup?† my mother asks, and when I do not answer, she says, â€Å"You better call Ronnie back.† But I only lie down in my bed and stare at the ceiling of my bedroom until the sun comes up. How to cite The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 10, Essay examples

By kim Essay Example For Students

By: kim Essay JFK John F. Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States (1961-1963). He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, on May 29, 1917,the second oldest in a family of nine children, the son of financier Joseph P. Kennedy, who served as ambassador to Great Britain during the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He graduated from Harvard University in 1940. In 1941, John Kennedy joined the Navy. He became the commander of a small boat assigned to the battle in the Pacific against the Japanese. After World War II he soon decided to run for political office. In 1946, he was elected to the U. S. Congress, Kennedy, a Democrat, served three terms (six years) in the House of Representatives, and in 1952 he was elected to the U.S. Senate. In 1953, he married Jacqueline Lee Bouvier. In the general election on November 8, 1960, Kennedy defeated Vice President Richard M. Nixon, in a very close race. Kennedy was the youngest man elected President and the first Catholic. Just after the election, the Kennedys second child, John Jr., was born. Kennedy wanted Americans to travel to a more distant destination. In May 1961, after Alan Shepard became the first American astronaut to fly into space, Kennedy asked Congress to spend more money on space exploration, with the goal of landing a man on the moon by the end of the decade. In 1963, clashes between the police and demonstrating blacks in Birmingham, Ala., and elsewhere, especially in the South, induced the president to stress civil rights legislation. Kennedys new civil rights message included bills to ban discrimination in places of business; to speed up desegregation of public schools; and to end discrimination in the hiring of workers on federal construction projects. On Nov. 22, 1963, Kennedy was shot to death in Dallas, Texas, the fourth United States president to die by an assassins bullet. The state funeral of President Kennedy was watched on television by millions around the world. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. During his time as President, JFK had to make difficult decisions. Many of the hardest choices concerned the relationship between our nation and the Soviet Union.President Kennedys death caused enormous sadness and grief among all Americans. Most people still remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news of the murder. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Washington for the Presidents funeral, and millions throughout the world watched it on television. As the years have gone by and other Presidents have written their chapters in history, John Kennedys brief time in office stands out in peoples memoriesfor his leadership, personality, and accomplishments. Many respect his coolness when faced with difficult decisionslike what to do about the missiles in Cuba. Others admire his ability to inspire people with his eloquent speeches. Still others think his compassion and his willingness to fight for new government programs to help the poor, the elderly and the ill were most important. Like all leaders, John Kennedy made mistakes, but he was always optimistic about the future. He believed that people could solve their common problems if they put their countrys interests first and worked together. Word Count: 529