Title: A resolution recognizing suicide as a serious public health problem and expressing support for the designation of September as "National Suicide Prevention Month".
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the designation of September as National Suicide Prevention Month.
It also recognizes suicide as a serious and preventable public health problem, declares suicide prevention as a priority, and promotes awareness that there is no single cause for suicide.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 738 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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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 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
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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes suicide as a serious and preventable public 
        health problem of the United States and each State;
            (2) supports the designation of September as ``National 
        Suicide Prevention Month'';
            (3) declares suicide prevention as a priority;
            (4) acknowledges that no single suicide prevention program 
        or effort will be appropriate for all populations or 
        communities;
            (5) promotes awareness that there is no single cause of 
        suicide; and
            (6) supports strategies to increase access to high-quality 
        mental health and suicide prevention services and substance-use 
        disorder treatments.
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