[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6787]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, today I rise to 
recognize Military Mental Health Awareness Day, which is tomorrow, May 
16, 2012. Our servicemembers have made tremendous sacrifices for our 
country, and many face serious conditions, including the potential for 
anxiety, depression, anger; and a growing number of those experience 
post-traumatic stress injury. For one reason or another, too many, 
tragically, result in suicide. According to the Army, during 2011, 
there were a total of 164 confirmed active duty suicides. For 2012, 
there have been 61 potential active duty suicides--35 confirmed and 26 
still under investigation.
  Madam Speaker, these statistics are daunting. One servicemember 
taking his or her own life is too many. In Congress, we have worked to 
increase access and availability and also to remove the stigma 
associated with these conditions in hopes that more soldiers, sailors, 
airmen, and marines will be more easily diagnosed and seek the 
available resources and treatments.
  I want to thank everyone involved in Military Mental Health Awareness 
Day as we continue the important work of delivering care to these brave 
men and women who have served this country with honor and distinction.

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