[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 782 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 782

  Supporting the goals and ideals of National Suicide Prevention and 
                            Awareness Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 13, 2012

  Mr. Boswell (for himself and Mr. McDermott) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the goals and ideals of National Suicide Prevention and 
                            Awareness Month.

Whereas suicide is the 10th leading cause of all deaths in the United States and 
        the third leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 
        15 to 24;
Whereas in the United States, on average, there is a death by suicide every 14.2 
        minutes;
Whereas it is estimated that 4,730,000 people in the United States are survivors 
        of suicide (those who have lost a loved one to suicide);
Whereas an increase in the overall suicide rate in the United States occurred in 
        2009, the suicide rate for those between the ages of 15 to 24 has more 
        than doubled since the mid-1950s, and the suicide rate remains highest 
        for adults 75 years of age and older;
Whereas suicide is now the leading noncombat cause of death among members of the 
        Armed Forces and the leading cause of death in the Army;
Whereas 38 members of the Army died during July 2012, by either confirmed or 
        suspected suicide, resulting in the highest one-month tally of suicides 
        in recent Army history;
Whereas in the United States, on average, 18 veterans are lost to suicide every 
        day;
Whereas the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act (Public Law 110-110) 
        was enacted into law in 2007 to establish a comprehensive program for 
        suicide prevention among veterans;
Whereas the law created the Veterans Crisis Line, which has answered more than 
        650,000 telephone calls and made more than 23,000 life-saving rescues;
Whereas the stigma associated with mental illness and suicidality works against 
        suicide prevention by discouraging persons at risk for suicide from 
        seeking life-saving help and further traumatizes survivors of suicide;
Whereas a great many suicides are preventable; and
Whereas September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Suicide 
        Prevention and Awareness Month;
            (2) supports the efforts of National Suicide Prevention and 
        Awareness Month to raise awareness and improve outreach to 
        persons at risk for suicide, especially such efforts addressed 
        to veterans and members of the Armed Forces; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to learn 
        more about the warning signs of suicide and how each person can 
        help prevent suicide and promote mental health.
                                 <all>