National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 2345, the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act.

Suicide is now the tenth leading cause for death in adults aged 18 to 64, and, for every suicide, there are 25 attempts. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that suicide rates increased by 28 percent between 1999 and 2016. Mr. Speaker, 49 States experienced an increase in suicide rates during that period.

As my colleague said, we also know that the risk is significantly higher for veterans. Veteran men are at a 19 percent higher risk, and veteran women are at a 2\1/2\ times higher risk than nonveteran women.

These statistics point to a problem that is all too real and, sadly, all too common. That fact was evident last month when, unfortunately, both Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, both very successful in their careers, took their own lives.

It is heartbreaking when someone is suffering so much that they choose to end their own life. Unfortunately, I know it in my own family, when people are afraid to reach out.

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline Improvement Act before us today would make it easier for people wanting to connect with someone through that hotline. The bill would set up a process to give Americans an easy-to-remember, three-digit code, like 911, to call when they or their loved one are in crisis, rather than the current 10-digit number.

The bill would also require the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to study the effectiveness of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, currently known as 1-800-273-TALK, and the Department of Veterans Affairs would be required to study the effectiveness of the Veterans Crisis Line.

The Senate has passed a companion bill by unanimous consent. H.R. 2345 is a bipartisan, commonsense bill, and I want to thank the authors, Congressman Chris Stewart of Utah and Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, for the very hard work and leadership they put into this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it today, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mrs. DINGELL. Eddie Bernice Johnson), the cosponsor of this legislation.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2345, the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act, and I want to thank Mr. Stewart and the committee leaders for the hard work in presenting this on the floor today.

This bipartisan legislation asks the Federal Communications Commission and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to study the designation of a three-digit dialing code similar to 911. Even 3-year-olds can remember 911. When a family is in crisis, an 800 number sometimes is difficult to remember.

The suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system makes it all American because we are faced with these kinds of incidences many times every day. The bill also requires them to perform a cost- and-benefit service analysis of using a three-digit dialing code for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system and examine the overall effectiveness of the current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line and recommend ways to improve the current system.

Each year, 45,000 Americans take their own life, an average of 123 completed suicides every day, and an additional 1 million-plus Americans attempt suicide each year. While there are many resources for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, it can be difficult to find these resources during this extreme time of need.

The current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has increased access, but the dialing code can be cumbersome to remember, 1-800-273- TALK. Just try to remember dialing that many digits.

Unfortunately, in many States where there are numerous entities providing services, there is not always one consolidated number to call. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline Improvement Act is an important step to achieve that end. This legislation will build upon the success of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to increase access to lifesaving services while evaluating new and innovative ways to improve the current system. It is critical that we move quickly on this bill so that we can begin saving more lives each day.

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Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers. So I would like to say that perhaps, today, this House can act together and save a life, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2345.

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