Letter of Inviatation

From: Addo-Ayensu, Gloria [mailto:Gloria.Addo-Ayensu@fairfaxcounty.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 4:40 AM
To: Spies, Erica L. (CDC/ONDIEH/NCIPC)
Subject: Epi-Aid request
Dear Dr. James Mercy,
Since October 1, 2014, there have been 3 suicides among high school students in the Fairfax County
Public School System in Fairfax County, Virginia. Public health officials, school administrators in the
public school system, parents, and wider community are concerned about a possible suicide cluster
among high school students in the public school system. While the school system and community have
dedicated resources to several suicide postvention activities, the community has become increasingly
concerned due to the 16 suicides that have already occurred among youth in 2014. These recent deaths
have left the community concerned that there might be unidentified factors contributing to suicide risk
and unmet needs for preventive action. Consequently, the Fairfax County Health Department and the
Virginia Department of Health are urgently requesting CDC's assistance in investigating youth suicide
and making recommendations for a public health response to prevent additional suicides among Fairfax
County youth.
The Director of Health of Fairfax County Health Department, Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, formally invites
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to perform and investigation in Fairfax County, Virginia
via an Epi-Aid. The objectives of the investigation are to characterize the extent of fatal and non-fatal
suicidal behavior, identifying risk factors for suicide among youth, and to recommend measures to
prevent additional suicides among Fairfax County youth.
Thank you.
Gloria Addo-Ayensu, MD, MPH
Director of Health
Fairfax County Health Department
10777 Main Street #203
Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 246-2479