[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 158 (Thursday, September 28, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E908]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONALD S. BEYER, JR.

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 28, 2023

  Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Suicide Prevention 
Month. We know our country is in the midst of a severe mental health 
crisis, and people are struggling. After declines in the suicide rate 
from 2019 to 2020, the rates increased almost percent in 2021. 
Provisional data from the CDC shows that the rate is continuing to 
rise, up 2.6 percent from 2021 to 2022. According to this data, which 
is not yet final, we lost about 49,450 people to suicide in 2022.
  This is a dire situation, but we have tools to help save lives and 
the opportunity to transform how we as a nation respond to suicide, 
mental health, and substance use crises. I am grateful to my colleagues 
for supporting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Formerly the National 
Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the 988 Lifeline has helped connect 
millions of individuals across the country with support and resources 
in their darkest hours. Since its transition to the 988-dialing code 
from the longer, 10-digit hotline in July of 2022, the Lifeline has 
received almost 5 million contacts (through calls, chats, and texts). 
Vibrant Emotional Health, the administrator of the Lifeline, estimates 
that this number could reach 9 million in the next fiscal year (FY24).
  We must ensure that anyone in crisis--regardless of the time of day, 
or where they are--has someone to talk to, someone to respond, and a 
safe place to go. Continued federal investment is critical for the 988 
Lifeline to sustain the crisis care continuum and build out the call 
centers, as well as mobile crisis response teams and crisis 
stabilization facilities.
  Suicide does not discriminate and impacts all communities, with some 
populations being at increased risk. For example, between 2018 and 
2021, increases in age-adjusted suicide rates were highest amongst 
Native Americans (26 percent), with Blacks (19.2 percent) and Hispanics 
(6.8 percent) also experiences significant increases. Other 
disproportionately impacted populations include Veterans, people living 
in rural areas, LGBTQ people, middle-aged and older adults, tribal 
populations, and youth.
  Vibrant estimates that about 80 percent of chat and text contacts are 
initiated by youth and young adults. We must meet children and 
adolescents where they are and ensure that chat and text capacity is 
strong enough to meet this great demand. To address mental health 
challenges among our youth, I will be reintroducing the Peer-to-Peer 
Suicide Prevention Act, which would help young people support their 
mental health byestablishing a competitive grant program for middle and 
high-schools to facilitate student-led suicide prevention programs.
  A study from Pew Charitable Trusts earlier this year revealed that 
only about 13 percent of adults in the US are aware of the 988 Suicide 
& Crisis Lifeline. The 988 Lifeline represents a chance to change how 
our country supports those in crisis; it cannot reach its potential if 
most people are unaware of its existence, and of its numerous resources 
and supports it can offer them when they need them most. A coordinated, 
national suicide prevention public awareness campaign is necessary to 
educate people across the country of what 988 has to offer. That's why 
I will be reintroducing the Campaign to Prevent Suicide Act to support 
culturally competent advertisements across the lifespan.
  Suicide prevention has long been an important issue to me. I 
encourage all of my colleagues to join me this month in raising 
awareness and supporting legislation that promotes mental health and 
suicide prevention to help save lives.