[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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