[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 135 (Thursday, September 8, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H5175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH

  (Mr. MURPHY of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, recently, Roger Webb, of the 
University of Manchester, conducted a study which found that when 
parents have psychiatric illnesses or have attempted suicide, their 
children are at increased risk for attempting suicide themselves.
  Our healthcare system for families with genetic histories of other 
biological diseases should be no different from those of psychiatric 
diseases. We must intervene early before the mental health crisis 
starts. But, unfortunately, in the United States, with too few 
psychiatric beds, a shortage of psychiatrists and psychologists, and 
112 Federal agencies that are a disjointed mess, no, we are not there 
yet.
  But the House passed the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act 
in July to make a difference in this. We now call upon the Senate to 
make a difference as well. They need to make sure they pass this bill 
and don't pass up the opportunity to save lives.
  So far, since September 1, 7,672 lives have been lost related to 
mental illness; and since the House-passed bill, 61,000. We have to 
understand we must have treatment before these tragedies and provide 
help before hope.
  I hope the Senate passes H.R. 2646 before they leave in September.

                          ____________________