Focusing on Suicide Prevention

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, September is Suicide Prevention Month, and nearly every 12 minutes, an American dies by suicide.

It is now the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. Suicide claims the lives of more than 2,000 Pennsylvanians each year, an average of 5 lives a day.

Madam Speaker, suicide is preventable. Increasing access to crisis resources saves lives. Mental and behavioral health research saves lives. Ending the stigma surrounding suicide saves lives.

There is no single cause of suicide, and suicide risk increases when several health factors and life stressors converge to create an experience of hopelessness and despair.

Together, we can reverse this course. By making mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and suicide prevention a national priority, we can reverse the tide on these deaths of despair.

In fact, in 2020, the U.S. designated 988 as the national suicide and crisis hotline, making it easier for all Americans to reach help if needed.

Madam Speaker, let's keep the conversation going year-round. We can all play an important role in prevention.

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