[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 212 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                      October 10, 1998.
Whereas suicide, the ninth leading cause of all deaths in the United States and 
        the third such cause for young persons ages 15 through 24, claims over 
        31,000 lives annually, more than homicide;
Whereas suicide attempts, estimated to exceed 750,000 annually, adversely impact 
        the lives of millions of family members;
Whereas suicide completions annually cause over 200,000 family members to grieve 
        over and mourn a tragic suicide death for the first time, thus creating 
        a population of over 4,000,000 such mourners in the United States;
Whereas the suicide completion rate per 100,000 persons has remained relatively 
        stable over the past 40 years for the general population, and that rate 
        has nearly tripled for young persons;
Whereas the suicide rate is rising among African American young men;
Whereas the suicide completion rate is highest for adults over 65;
Whereas the stigma associated with mental illness works against suicide 
        prevention by keeping persons at risk of completing suicide from seeking 
        lifesaving help;
Whereas the stigma associated with suicide deaths seriously inhibits surviving 
        family members from regaining meaningful lives;
Whereas suicide deaths impose a huge unrecognized and unmeasured economic burden 
        on the United States in terms of potential years of life lost, medical 
        costs incurred, and work time lost by mourners;
Whereas suicide is a complex, multifaceted biological, sociological, 
        psychological, and societal problem;
Whereas even though many suicides are currently preventable, there is still a 
        need for the development of more effective suicide prevention programs;
Whereas suicide prevention opportunities continue to increase due to advances in 
        clinical research, in mental disorder treatments, and in basic 
        neuroscience, and due to the development of community-based initiatives 
        that await evaluation; and
Whereas suicide prevention efforts should be encouraged to the maximum extent 
        possible: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes suicide as a national problem and declares suicide 
        prevention to be a national priority;
            (2) acknowledges that no single suicide prevention program or effort 
        will be appropriate for all populations or communities;
            (3) encourages initiatives dedicated to--
                    (A) preventing suicide;
                    (B) responding to people at risk for suicide and people who 
                have attempted suicide;
                    (C) promoting safe and effective treatment for persons at 
                risk for suicidal behavior;
                    (D) supporting people who have lost someone to suicide; and
                    (E) developing an effective national strategy for the 
                prevention of suicide; and
            (4) encourages the development, and the promotion of accessibility 
        and affordability, of mental health services, to enable all persons at 
        risk for suicide to obtain the services, without fear of any stigma.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.