[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5313-H5314]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 9, 2023, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-
McCormick) is recognized until 10 p.m. as the designee of the minority 
leader.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and include any extraneous material on the subject of this 
Special Order hour.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I 
rise today to anchor this CBC Special Order hour. For the next 12 
minutes and 30 seconds, Members of the CBC have an opportunity to 
discuss the importance of Suicide Prevention Month, an issue of great 
importance to the Congressional Black Caucus, Congress, the 
constituents we represent, and all Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Carter).
  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair for the 
opportunity to speak.
  As we come together for Suicide Prevention Month, I am deeply aware 
that this heartbreaking crisis is hitting the Black community hard. The 
CDC reported that in 2023, the suicide rate among Black Americans rose 
by 19 percent, with Black youth experiencing the sharpest increase of 
any racial group in the Nation. This alarming trend highlights the 
urgent need for action.
  Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy that makes waves through 
communities and through families, leaving a void that cannot be filled. 
Yet, too many of our loved ones don't get the mental health care and 
support they deserve. As lawmakers, we must confront the uncomfortable 
truth that our current system is simply falling short.
  The Congressional Black Caucus has been at the forefront of 
addressing this epidemic, working tirelessly to secure critical mental 
health resources, but our work is far from over. Suicide Prevention 
Month offers us a moment to reflect on what more we can do, how we can 
ensure these resources reach every individual in need and especially 
our youth.
  We must expand access to culturally competent mental health care, 
reduce stigma, and create safe spaces for our open conversations about 
mental health.

                              {time}  2150

  That is why I introduced the Mental Health Workforce Act, to address 
racial disparities in the mental health field. The bill seeks to 
allocate resources and establish programs that focus on the unique 
needs of marginalized communities, ensuring equitable access to mental 
health services.
  Numerous barriers to access mental healthcare treatment persist in 
communities of color, including the stigma associated with mental 
illness, general distrust of healthcare institutions, and the lack of 
health insurance.
  Together, we can change the trajectory of this crisis and ensure a 
future where every life is valued and protected.
  It is critically important that you know you are not alone, and we 
are here to help.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Jackson).

[[Page H5314]]

  

  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight because we 
gather on this floor to give recognition to a growing and troubling 
problem in America today.
  Never before have so many young people, and in particular so many 
African-American young people, been susceptible to the tragic influence 
of suicidal thoughts.
  One of the things that we cannot leave out of this discussion is how 
much the anxiety of our politics has contributed to the overall 
dysfunction that has become a cancer on the lives and mental health of 
America's citizens.
  I say to you tonight when people have to worry about political 
violence and insurrections, that is a strain on mental health. When 
people have to be concerned about losing their healthcare when they 
need it most; when people are concerned about the attacks on Medicaid 
and Medicare; when people are concerned about not being able to make 
decisions on their own bodies; when people are concerned about whether 
or not there will be a shooting in their school today; and when people 
have to listen to the former President of the United States demonize 
Haitian immigrants with absolutely no evidence for the erroneous claims 
he happens to be making, it is no wonder that America has become a 
Nation riddled with anxiety.
  Let us be very clear: The will to live is connected to the conditions 
of one's life.
  I am not a mental health expert, Mr. Speaker, but I happen to believe 
that people who have something to live for are often engaged in the act 
of living with a sense of promise and hope.
  I understand that mental health diseases are real and must be treated 
separately, but there are a lot of people in this country who 
contemplate ending their lives not because they have a mental health 
disease but rather because the conditions in which they have to live 
have become overwhelming and completely debilitating.
  Mr. Speaker, and when people can no longer see a future for 
themselves, they are more susceptible to the vicissitudes of despair.
  The epidemic of opioid abuse is indicative of this analysis.
  There are millions upon millions of people in this country who are 
simply trying to escape the conditions of their lives.
  And every day they are fighting not to give in to the encroaching 
darkness that seems to stalk them both day and night.
  And let's be honest, it is a familiar darkness.
  The content of which is comprised of questions like: How will I pay 
my mortgage;
  How can I afford rent and keep up with my car note; and
  How can I pay for the college education of my children while at the 
same time afford school supplies for the ones who are still in 
elementary school.
  It is a familiar darkness.
  It is comprised of concerns about the future of democracy;
  the right to vote;
  racism and the creeping eradication of America's commitment to 
diversity;
  the criminal justice system;
  questions of war and peace; and
  clean water, clean air, and clean food.
  And my question tonight is this: What about them?
  What are we prepared to do in this Congress to make the lives of the 
American people more secure and worthy of what it means to be called an 
American?
  And contrary to what some have come to believe, not everybody in this 
country can pull themselves up by their own bootstraps.
  There are millions of people who proverbially don't even own boots.
  And I still believe that a nation of great wealth owes it to all of 
its citizens to provide a basic level of support, so that while it is 
true that not all of us will have maximum success--none of us, however, 
should be condemned to fail.
  We have a moral and ethical obligation to make the future of this 
country brighter than the one we were born into.
  And we do this not just in the policies we legislate, but also in the 
tone of our politics.
  High octane rhetoric will not bring a level of ease to the hearts and 
minds of the American people.
  And so I say to you tonight, let us not just be concerned about 
preventing suicide without confronting the conditions that make the 
lives of the American people needlessly miserable and more difficult 
than it has to be.
  Let us dedicate ourselves to the flourishing of all people.
  And let us be particularly mindful of the suffering that grows among 
us.
  We want you to know tonight that we see you,
  we hear you,
  we love you,
  and you are not in this battle alone.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time 
remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Florida has 7 minutes 
remaining.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Suicide 
Prevention Month to bring attention to a deeply troubling issue 
affecting our Nation: racial disparities in suicide rates, particularly 
among Black youth.
  According to the recent data from the CDC, the suicide rate among 
Black youth aged 10 through 19 climbed by a staggering 54 percent 
between 2018 and 2022, exceeding, for the first time, that of their 
White peers.
  In my home State of Florida, where the suicide rate among Black teens 
is the third highest in the country, the need to address this crisis is 
especially urgent. Black youth are also significantly less likely to 
receive the mental health support they need as they face stigma and 
mistrust toward the healthcare system.
  Racial discrimination, economic disenfranchisement, and the lack of 
culturally competent mental health services fuels disparities and 
creates barriers to accessing care, even when it is available.
  We have long understood suicide prevention and mental health 
initiatives to be public health interventions that benefit all 
Americans. It pains me to see such drastic disparities within these 
communities.
  As Black youth suicide rates continue to climb, investments in 
cultural competence training, mental health screenings, research, and 
resources are desperately needed. By taking these steps, we can ensure 
those at risk are connected to the appropriate accessible and 
culturally sensitive care they need and deserve.
  Lastly, we need to do more research into the specific risk factors 
affecting Black youth. Understanding the full scope of the problem is 
essential to developing practical solutions. Federal funding for 
studies that explore how stigma, cultural identity, and community 
engagement influence suicide risk in the Black community is long 
overdue. These studies will guide us in crafting policies and 
interventions that are both targeted and effective.
  The importance of prevention and awareness cannot be understated. 
This Suicide Prevention Month, we must reaffirm our commitment to 
addressing the disparities in mental health head-on and ensure that no 
youth's life is lost to a preventable cause.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will remind Members to refrain 
from engaging in personalities toward nominees for the Office of 
President.

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