Bill > SRes385

This resolution recognizes suicide as a critical public health issue in the United States, highlighting several key facts and commitments. The resolution notes that suicide is the 11th leading cause of death nationally, with approximately 49,000 deaths annually, and that the suicide rate has increased by 36% between 1999 and 2022. It acknowledges that over 1.5 million suicide attempts occur each year, and that more than half of individuals who die by suicide do not have a known mental health condition. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes that multiple factors contribute to suicide, including relationship challenges, substance use, physical health, and stress. The Senate resolves to recognize suicide as a preventable public health problem, support the designation of September as "National Suicide Prevention Month", declare suicide prevention a priority, promote awareness that suicide has no single cause, and support strategies to increase access to mental health services, suicide prevention services, and substance-use disorder treatments. Additionally, the resolution highlights the significant economic impact of suicide, estimating $70 billion in annual medical and work-loss costs, and acknowledges the harmful stigma associated with mental health that can discourage individuals from seeking help.

Health and Social Services

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-resolution/385/all-info