[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H316]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     ADDRESSING SUICIDE PREVENTION

  (Mr. STEWART asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEWART. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about the Suicide 
Prevention Act.
  I read this statistic on the House floor before, but it bears 
repeating: every 9 minutes someone in the United States commits 
suicide. And for every suicide-related death, there are 25 attempts. 
These are truly heartbreaking statistics, and they hit close to home.
  I have met with the family and friends of those who have taken their 
own life. I have heard their stories and I am responding to their pleas 
for help.
  This bill is part of a longstanding commitment to reverse this 
troubling trend. It is bipartisan, it is bicameral, and it would 
provide for new resources to turn the tide on this dire situation.
  Part of the problem when it comes to effectively addressing suicide 
is that medical and other professionals have outdated resources and 
stale data. The current data collection efforts regarding suicide are 
often years out of date, and this limits the ability of State and local 
health organizations, as well as community organizations, to recognize 
the trends early and intervene.
  Mr. Speaker, I am asking my colleagues here in the House and the 
Senate to respond to those who are crying for help. This legislation 
makes so much sense, we should make it a priority.

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