[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 96 (Friday, July 21, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7453-S7454]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 339--DESIGNATING NOVEMBER 18, 2000, AS ``NATIONAL 
                       SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE DAY''

  Mr. REID submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 339

       Whereas the 105th Congress, in Senate Resolution 84 and 
     House Resolution 212, recognized suicide as a national 
     problem and suicide prevention as a national priority;
       Whereas the Surgeon General has publicly recognized suicide 
     as a public health problem;
       Whereas the resolutions of the 105th Congress called for a 
     collaboration between public and private organizations and 
     individuals concerned with suicide;
       Whereas in the United States, more than 30,000 people take 
     their own lives each year;
       Whereas suicide is the 8th leading cause of death in the 
     United States and the 3rd major cause of death among young 
     people aged 15 through 19;
       Whereas the suicide rate among young people has more than 
     tripled in the last 4 decades, a fact that is a tragedy in 
     itself and a source of devastation to millions of family 
     members and loved ones;

[[Page S7454]]

       Whereas every year in the United States, hundreds of 
     thousands of people become suicide survivors (people that 
     have lost a loved one to suicide), and there are 
     approximately 8,000,000 suicide survivors in the United 
     States today;
       Whereas society still needlessly stigmatizes both the 
     people that take their own lives and suicide survivors;
       Whereas there is a need for greater outreach to suicide 
     survivors because, all too often, they are left alone to 
     grieve;
       Whereas suicide survivors are often helped to rebuild their 
     lives through a network of support with fellow survivors;
       Whereas suicide survivors play an essential role in 
     educating communities about the risks of suicide and the need 
     to develop suicide prevention strategies; and
       Whereas suicide survivors contribute to suicide prevention 
     research by providing essential information about the 
     environmental and genetic backgrounds of the deceased: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1)(A) designates November 18, 2000, as ``National 
     Survivors of Suicide Day''; and
       (B) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on Federal, State, and local administrators and the 
     people of the United States to observe the day with 
     appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities;
       (2) encourages the involvement of suicide survivors in 
     healing activities and prevention programs;
       (3) acknowledges that suicide survivors face distinct 
     obstacles in their grieving;
       (4) recognizes that suicide survivors can be a source of 
     support and strength to each other;
       (5) recognizes that suicide survivors have played a leading 
     role in organizations dedicated to reducing suicide through 
     research, education, and treatment programs; and
       (6) acknowledges the efforts of suicide survivors in their 
     prevention, education, and advocacy activities to eliminate 
     stigma and to reduce the incidence of suicide.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a Senate resolution 
which would designate November 18, 2000 as ``National Survivors of 
Suicide Day.'' The term ``survivor'' refers to anyone who has lost a 
loved one to suicide. As such, having lost my father to suicide in 
1972, I am viewed as a survivor in the suicide prevention community. 
Nationally, more than 30,000 people take their own lives each year. 
Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States and 
the third major cause of death among people aged 15-19.
  The suicide rate among young people has more than tripled in the last 
four decades. Today in our country, countless suicide survivors go on 
with their lives, many of them grieving in a very private way. This is 
because there still remains a stigma towards those who take their own 
life as well as those who are left behind to cope with the suicide of a 
loved one. I can't begin to tell you how many survivors have written me 
expressing the shame and guilt they feel about their loved one's 
suicide, many of whom are still unable to deal honestly with the tragic 
conditions which ultimately led to someone they love taking their own 
life.
  I am pleased that this resolution passed the Senate by unanimous 
consent last year. Since then, there has been a fervor of activity and 
collaboration in both the federal and private sectors around suicide 
prevention. Most recently, the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services 
and Education Appropriations Subcommittee dedicated a hearing to 
suicide awareness and prevention. Among those who testified were 
Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, National Institute of Mental Health 
Director Dr. Steve E. Hyman, psychologist and author Dr. Kay Redfield 
Jamison, and novelist Danielle Steele.
  While we have taken some important first steps, we still have a long 
way to go in the area of suicide prevention and awareness. It is my 
intent to recognize the countless survivors who all are at various 
stages of healing in addressing the loss of their loved one to suicide. 
I ask you to support me in turning their grief into hope, a hope that 
with acceptance and understanding, can lead our nation in effectively 
addressing this very preventable public health challenge.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a letter of support be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:
                                               American Foundation


                                       For Suicide Prevention,

                                      New York, NY, July 20, 2000.
     Senator Harry Reid,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Reid: The American Foundation for Suicide 
     Prevention supports the proposed Senate Resolution 
     designating Saturday, November 18, 2000 as National Survivors 
     of Suicide Day. We believe this resolution will build on the 
     momentum started last year by Senate Resolution 99, which 
     recognized for the first time the unique problems faced by 
     survivors and their important contributions to suicide 
     prevention.
       Specifically, the proposed Survivors of Suicide Day 
     Resolution will be instrumental in fostering the involvement 
     of people who have lost a loved one to suicide in prevention 
     activities. I will also encourage them to come forward, break 
     the silence and join with other survivors as a way to promote 
     their healing.
       As you know, our Foundation is actively organizing survivor 
     conferences across the country to be linked by satellite on 
     November 18. Working together with other private 
     organizations and pubic agencies, we will use this resolution 
     to expand the number of local survivor conferences 
     participating in National Survivors of Suicide Day.
       We appreciate all you are doing to encourage and empower 
     survivors, and are grateful for your willingness to introduce 
     this important resolution. On behalf of millions of survivors 
     who want to prevent others from experiencing a similar loss, 
     as well as people throughout our country concerned about the 
     risk of suicide, thank you.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Robert Gebbia,
     Executive Director.

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