[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 120 (Thursday, September 12, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H5532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK

  (Ms. ESTY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. ESTY. Madam Speaker, this week is National Suicide Prevention 
Week.
  More than 38,000 Americans die by suicide every year, 90 percent of 
whom have at least one treatable mental illness.
  Veterans account for 20 percent of suicides in this country, and 
military suicide is at an all-time high. The July 2012 cover of Time 
Magazine described the tragedy of military suicide with a simple 
headline: One a Day. One year later, these rates have remained largely 
unchanged, and we owe far better to those who have worn or do wear the 
uniform.
  Earlier this summer, I added an amendment to Defense appropriations 
to add $10 million for military suicide awareness and prevention. It is 
our responsibility to care for our troops and for our veterans, and 
more work needs to be done.
  During National Suicide Prevention Week, let us commit to ensuring 
that every American has access to treatment.

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