[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 129 (Thursday, September 26, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S6962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 262--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF SUICIDE 
                          PREVENTION AWARENESS

  Mr. DONNELLY (for himself, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Begich, Mr. Boozman, Mr. 
Chambliss, Ms. Hirono, and Mr. Tester) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 262

       Whereas, suicide is the tenth leading cause of all deaths 
     in the United States and the second leading cause of death 
     among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34;
       Whereas, on average, there is a death by suicide in the 
     United States every 13.7 minutes;
       Whereas, an estimated 6,000,000 individuals in the United 
     States are survivors of suicide, meaning they have lost a 
     loved one to suicide;
       Whereas, suicide is a leading noncombat cause of death 
     among members of the Armed Forces;
       Whereas, on average, 22 veterans are lost to suicide in the 
     United States each day;
       Whereas, the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act 
     (Public Law 110-110; 121 Stat. 1031) was enacted in 2007 to 
     establish a comprehensive program for suicide prevention 
     among veterans;
       Whereas, the Veterans Crisis Line, which was established 
     under the Joshua Omvig Veteran Suicide Prevention Act, has 
     received more than 890,000 telephone calls and facilitated 
     more than 30,000 life-saving rescues;
       Whereas, the stigma associated with mental illness and 
     suicidality works against suicide prevention by discouraging 
     individuals at risk of suicide from seeking life-saving help 
     and further traumatizes survivors of suicide;
       Whereas, 90 percent of the individuals who die by suicide 
     have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of death;
       Whereas, many suicides are preventable; and
       Whereas, September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness 
     Month: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Suicide 
     Prevention Awareness Month;
       (2) supports efforts during National Suicide Prevention 
     Awareness Month to raise awareness and improve outreach to 
     individuals 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.

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