[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 146 (Tuesday, September 27, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5923-H5924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH
(Mr. BUCSHON asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, suicide is the second leading cause of
death for young Americans ages 10 to 24.
To put that in perspective, for kids in the fourth grade to young
adults just starting their careers, suicide is the second leading cause
of death.
As a father of four all in this age group, I can't tell you how
heartbreaking it is that kids across the country feel hopeless and feel
that suicide is their only option.
[[Page H5924]]
Tragically, we know that many of the individuals who experience
suicidal thoughts suffer from some form of mental illness but have not
received proper treatment.
Here in the House, we passed landmark legislation to overhaul our
Nation's mental health treatment system to make sure these individuals
have access to the care they need, and we need to see it across the
finish line.
That is why I am here on the floor today to recognize National
Suicide Prevention Month and, more importantly, to bring awareness to
this tragic problem and recommit our efforts to help our fellow
citizens struggling with mental illness.
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