[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 102 (Tuesday, June 19, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL PTSD AWARENESS MONTH

  (Mr. HILL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National PTSD Awareness 
Month to call attention to this topic that is so important to the lives 
of our veterans and their families.
  Nowhere is the connection between PTSD and suicide felt more strongly 
than in the veteran community.
  Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, and 
on average, we lose 20 veterans per day to suicide.
  Far too many of our veterans are left with the difficulties of 
overcoming PTSD and addiction on their own. Our Central Arkansas 
Veterans Healthcare System, led by Dr. Margie Scott, is one of nine 
systems nationwide that is currently involved in the Clay Hunt SAV Act 
pilot program in our Nation.
  This program gives our VA employees the necessary tools to reach out 
to high-risk veterans and offer guidance, while providing essential 
suicide prevention services.
  I have got three wounded warriors on my district staff, Mr. Speaker, 
and we are together dedicated to our veterans.
  I am grateful to our veteran service organizations and our work 
together to spread the word on how we need to help our veterans avoid 
the crisis that comes with the risk of suicide.
  To our vets, you are not alone. All vets believe in the buddy system, 
and the Veteran Crisis Line keeps that bond.
  Please call 1-800-273-8255 if you are having a crisis or you know a 
veteran in crisis.

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