[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 173 (Friday, November 20, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S11880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIONAL SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE DAY

  Mr JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Saturday, 
November 21, as National Survivors of Suicide Day. National Survivors 
of Suicide Day is a day of healing for those who have lost someone to 
suicide. In 1999, a Senate resolution created this annual event behind 
the efforts of Senator Harry Reid, who lost his father to suicide. This 
year, on November 21, over 230 conferences will take place 
internationally to allow survivors of suicide to connect with others 
who have experienced the tragedy of suicide loss.
  The statistics about suicide are deeply concerning. In our Nation, 
suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death for all ages. Among 
young adults ages 15-24, there are approximately 100-200 attempts for 
every completed suicide. Suicide takes the lives of approximately 
30,000 Americans each year, and a person dies by suicide about every 16 
minutes. Suicide is an epidemic that tears families and communities 
apart, and we must do all that we can to prevent it.
  A suicide survivor is an individual who has lost someone to suicide. 
It is estimated that for each suicide, seven other lives are altered 
forever because of the death. Every year, approximately 200,000 people 
become survivors due to this tragic loss of life. Many suicide 
survivors are left devastated, confused and weakened by their loss. 
Friends and family often experience depression, guilt, shock and anger. 
Unfortunately, there remains a stigma surrounding suicide and mental 
illness, and victims often shoulder some of the blame.
  South Dakota is among a group of Western States that consistently has 
a higher rate of suicide than the rest of the country. The suicide rate 
for American Indians ages 15-34 is more than two times higher than the 
national average and is the second leading cause of death for this age 
group. The loss of these young people is a real crisis. We must provide 
tribes with the resources they need to implement culturally sensitive 
suicide prevention programs. It is critical to strengthen the social 
fabric to help improve mental health. On American Indian reservations 
in South Dakota, I have seen the catastrophic ripple effect that one 
suicide can have. Given the alarming occurrence of ``suicide clusters'' 
and imitative deaths that have occurred in Indian Country this year, it 
is imperative to provide support for those left behind.
  I hope that National Suicide Survivors Day is an opportunity to 
promote the broad based support that each survivor deserves. We are not 
doing enough to fight this tragic epidemic that is taking the lives of 
so many in our communities. We must concentrate our efforts on 
addressing the root causes of suicide in Indian Country and throughout 
the Nation. It is critical to expand access to mental health services, 
including a focus on education, prevention and intervention. 
Furthermore, we need to acknowledge the obstacles that suicide 
survivors face during their grieving and encourage the involvement of 
survivors in healing activities and prevention programs. This is one of 
the goals of the South Dakota Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Finally, 
I believe that with appropriate support and treatment, suicide 
survivors can lead effective advocacy efforts to eliminate stigma and 
reduce the incidence of suicide.

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