III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 738 

Recognizing suicide as a serious public health problem and expressing support 

for the designation of September as ‘‘National Suicide Prevention Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 30 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 29), 2020 

Mr. CASSIDY (for himself and Mr. MURPHY) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing suicide as a serious public health problem and 

expressing support for the designation of September as 

‘‘National Suicide Prevention Month’’. 

Whereas suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the 

United States and the second leading cause of death 

among individuals between 10 and 34 years of age; 

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘CDC’’), 

1 individual in the United States dies by suicide every 11 

minutes, resulting in around 48,000 deaths each year in 

the United States; 

Whereas, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 

20 members of the Armed Forces on active duty, members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who 


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•SRES 738 ATS 

are not on active duty, or veterans die by suicide each 

day, resulting in more than 7,000 deaths each year; 

Whereas, between 1999 and 2018, the suicide rate in the 

United States increased by 35 percent from 10.5 suicides 

for every 100,000 individuals to 14.2 suicides for every 

100,000 individuals; 

Whereas it is estimated that there are approximately 

1,400,000 suicide attempts each year in the United 

States; 

Whereas more than half of individuals who die by suicide did 

not have a known mental health condition; 

Whereas, according to the CDC, many factors contribute to 

suicide among individuals with and without known mental health conditions, including challenges related to relationships, substance use, physical health, and stress regarding work, money, legal problems, or housing; 

Whereas, according to the CDC, suicide results in an estimated $70,000,000,000 each year in combined medical 

and work-loss costs in the United States; 

Whereas the stigma associated with mental health conditions 

and suicidality hinders suicide prevention by discouraging 

at-risk individuals from seeking life-saving help and can 

further traumatize survivors of suicide loss and individuals with lived experience of suicide; 

Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has caused many individuals to experience emotional distress and anxiety; 

Whereas, according to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly 

Report of the CDC, risk factors for suicide, such as anxiety and depression, have increased considerably since the 

onset of restrictions to help slow the spread of COVID– 

19; and 


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•SRES 738 ATS 

Whereas September is an appropriate month to designate as 

‘‘National Suicide Prevention Month’’ because September 

10th is World Suicide Prevention Day, a day recognized 

internationally and supported by the World Health Organization: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes suicide as a serious and prevent3 able public health problem of the United States and 

4 each State; 

5 (2) supports the designation of September as 

6 ‘‘National Suicide Prevention Month’’; 

7 (3) declares suicide prevention as a priority; 

8 (4) acknowledges that no single suicide preven9 tion program or effort will be appropriate for all 

10 populations or communities; 

11 (5) promotes awareness that there is no single 

12 cause of suicide; and 

13 (6) supports strategies to increase access to 

14 high-quality mental health and suicide prevention 

15 services and substance-use disorder treatments. 

Æ 


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