A resolution recognizing suicide as a serious public health problem and expressing support for the designation of September as "National Suicide Prevention Month".
This is a Senate resolution recognizing suicide as a serious public health issue and expressing support for designating September as National Suicide Prevention Month. It frames suicide as preventable, cites extensive statistics (including deaths, attempts, and costs), notes that many risk factors extend beyond people with known mental health conditions, and emphasizes that stigma can hinder prevention. The resolution states that suicide prevention should be a priority and that no single program fits all populations, while urging strategies to improve access to high-quality mental health care, suicide prevention services, and substance-use disorder treatment. It is a non-binding statement of concern and intent, not a law or funding authorization, aimed at elevating awareness and guiding future policy discussions. Key details include: introduction by a bipartisan group of senators, referral to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and a focus on raising awareness and promoting access to services rather than creating specific programs or funding.
Key Points
- 1Recognizes suicide as a serious and preventable public health problem in the United States and in every state.
- 2Supports designation of September as “National Suicide Prevention Month.”
- 3Declares suicide prevention a Senate priority and highlights that no single program fits all populations or communities.
- 4Acknowledges that there is no single cause of suicide and that risk factors are diverse, including relationship, health, and financial or housing stress.
- 5Promotes strategies to increase access to high-quality mental health and suicide prevention services and to treatments for substance-use disorders.