[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 19, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3359-S3360]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Suicide Prevention
Mr. REED. Mr. President, I would like to talk today about a health
epidemic that is claiming the lives of tens of thousands of Americans
each year. I am speaking about the epidemic of suicide.
I will talk more about this in detail in a moment, but if there is
one thing I would like those listening to my remarks to remember is the
number 9-8-8--9-8-8, because 9-8-8 is a three-digit number for the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
If you need help, please dial 9-8-8.
Over the last several years, we have all observed the increasing
mental health needs in our country. Indeed, the isolation of the COVID-
19 pandemic made those needs more pronounced, particularly among
children, adolescents, and young adults.
In October 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American
Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children's Hospital
Association--organizations representing experts in children's mental
health--declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental
health. According to these organizations, ``Rates of childhood mental
health concerns and suicide rose steadily between 2010 and 2020 and by
2018 suicide was the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-
24. The pandemic has intensified this crisis: across the country we
have witnessed dramatic increases in Emergency Department visits for
all mental health emergencies including suspected suicide attempts.''
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, nearly 20
percent of high school students report serious thoughts of suicide, and
about 9 percent have tried to take their own lives.
During the pandemic, children faced challenges we couldn't have
imagined just a few years ago. Children isolated from their friends and
family members to limit the spread of COVID-19. But this meant that
many children were separated from loved ones and other trusted adults
like teachers who can help keep kids safe. And kids were isolated from
their peers, impeding social learning and development. And in these
tough times, rates of domestic violence and child abuse tend to
increase. On top of all these challenges, more than 140,000 children in
the United States lost a caregiver to COVID-19. And it is no wonder
that so many of our children and young adults are in crisis.
These hardships are not unique to young people. Adults are feeling
them as well. Regrettably, suicide remains the leading cause of death
in the United States. In 2020, suicide claimed the lives of 45,979
Americans, according to the latest data from the CDC. This is about one
death every 11 minutes. More people died by suicide in 2020 than in
motor vehicle accidents. The number of people who think about or
attempt suicide is even higher. In 2020, an estimated 12.2 million
American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.2 million planned a
suicide attempt, and 1.2 million attempted suicide.
Now, there are no easy solutions, but there are things we can do to
prevent suicide and improve access to mental health treatment. And we
have made some progress. Almost two decades ago, we passed legislation
to ensure parity in insurance coverage for mental and behavioral
health. We have more work to do to enforce the law, but it was an
important first step. And one of the most significant investments we
have made in mental healthcare was in passing the Affordable Care Act.
We expanded health insurance coverage for millions of Americans and
made sure that coverage included mental and behavioral care, which was
often excluded from health insurance before the ACA.
We need to do more though. More and more people need mental and
behavioral healthcare and do not have the resources to get such care.
And those with the resources find that there aren't enough providers to
see them, even with good healthcare insurance. There simply aren't
enough clinicians for the need. And lastly, we need to better help
people in crisis. We can't get people into effective care for the long
term if we haven't stopped the immediate crisis. That is why suicidal
prevention efforts are so critical.
As I alluded to earlier, last weekend, the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline made the switch from its longstanding 10-digit
number to an easy-to-remember 3-digit number, 9-8-8.
In 2019, I joined my colleagues Senators Tammy Baldwin and Jerry
Moran and former Senator Cory Gardner in introducing legislation
requiring this switch. Our bill was signed into law the next year, and
we have been working since then to make sure that 9-8-8 has the funding
to be able to handle the influx of new callers. It is estimated that
the Lifeline will receive millions more calls with the new number, so
we need trained people on the other end of the line ready to get people
the help that they need.
When we started this effort, the Lifeline only received about $7
million in Federal funding each year. Last year, with the help of
President Biden, Chair Murray and Chairman Leahy, we were able to
secure nearly $300 million for the Lifeline, and we are working to get
the number up to $700 million next year. This level of funding will
help ensure that calls are answered quickly and locally so that people
calling can talk to someone from their State who will know exactly
where to find nearby resources. We are also working toward a system in
which mobile response teams can respond in real time and be deployed to
help people in crisis who call.
While the switch to 9-8-8 over the weekend was a huge step forward,
we are just beginning to build a much broader system to help people in
crisis across the country. I introduced the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline Improvement Act with Senator Moran last year to help move the
Lifeline toward a more comprehensive system. The Health, Education,
Labor, and
[[Page S3360]]
Pensions Committee passed this bipartisan bill unanimously almost a
year ago. It is time for the full Senate to take it up and pass it.
Senator Moran, I must point out, has been a true leader in these
efforts. Recently, we have teamed up in introducing the Suicide
Prevention Act to try and intervene with those who may be in crisis but
may not know to call 9-8-8 or reach out otherwise. The Suicide
Prevention Act would fund prevention programs in hospital emergency
departments to better screen for suicide or mental health crises. This
is important because over 90 percent of people who attempt suicide have
seen a healthcare provider--often a visit to a hospital, particularly
an emergency room--in the weeks and days prior to their attempt. As
these people are accessing the healthcare system, the mental health
issues that really are driving them to seek medical attention are often
overlooked. There are evidence-based strategies that healthcare
professionals can employ to intervene before it is too late, but they
need the training and the resources in order to do so. The bill would
also strengthen data collection on suicide so we can better direct
resources where they are needed most.
We also need to respond to the challenges facing young people. Back
in 2004, I joined my former colleague Senator Gordon Smith in
introducing the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, which was named for his
son Garrett, who tragically lost his life to suicide the day before his
22nd birthday. This tragedy drove home the realization that suicide and
mental health crises are so common among young people.
Our legislation authorized new funding for youth suicide prevention
programs in States and on college campuses. Since it was first enacted,
the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act has delivered roughly $750 million
in suicide prevention funding nationally. And I am pleased that Senator
Lisa Murkowski, another longstanding partner and champion on this
issue, joined me in introducing the reauthorization of this law so we
can continue funding programs to support youth and young adults.
Mental health and suicide have for too long been subjects that have
been difficult to talk about, much less confront. In meeting the
challenge of this mental health crisis, we must be relentless. We
cannot just do one thing or even a few things because there is no
single solution.
A few days ago, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer
Communities Act, which included new resources for mental healthcare,
including an additional $150 million for implementation of 9-8-8 and
billions of dollars for other mental health services such as the
nationwide expansion of the Certified Community Behavioral Health
Clinic model. But that cannot be the end of our work.
Each of the efforts and bills I have mentioned represent our
continuing and unfinished work. They would add another layer to help
prevent suicide and strengthen our mental healthcare system.
So I urge my colleagues to work with me and my colleagues like
Senator Moran and Senator Murkowski to pass the Suicide Prevention Act,
the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act, the Garrett
Lee Smith Memorial Act reauthorization, and to undertake many other
efforts spearheaded by my colleagues. We should move forward with these
measures without delay to prevent another 45,000 Americans from falling
victim to suicide.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.