Suicide Prevention
Suicide is among the top ten leading causes of death in the United States, with rates of suicide rising among all age groups. To combat this increase, the APA's Department of Government Relations (DGR) is working to advance policies to reduce and prevent suicide and increase efforts to expand mental health and medical resources to reach the nation's most vulnerable populations. Most recently, the President signed the "Suicide Prevention Hotline" bill, which requires the Federal Communications Commission to study the feasibility of designating a simple, easy-to-remember dialing code to be used for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system.
APA is advocating to ensure that the suicide lifeline and other suicide-related programs have the resources necessary to serve those who need them. We are also working with state mental health agencies to fund needed crisis services in every state, to better serve adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbance, and to ensure they can receive needed care in appropriate settings, while avoiding unnecessary emergency room boarding and criminal justice system involvement.
For more information on how to get involved:
APA Comments, Letters and Highlights
2020
JUL 15
APA Calls on Congress to Pass Energy and Commerce Bills on Telehealth, Parity and Suicide in Mark Up
APR 20
APA Spearheads Justice Community Letter Urging Congress to Support Medicaid ReEntry and Crisis Interventions Funding During COVID-19
MAR 20
APA and Other Mental Health Allies Propose Government Action for Suicide Prevention during COVID-19
MAR 16
APA Joins Mental Health Groups in Comments to FCC on 988 Suicide Hotline Bill
2019
DEC 11
APA Supports Legislation Allowing Patients to Override Unnecessary or Harmful Step Therapy Protocols
DEC 11
APA Emphasizes Support to Both Chambers for the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2019: House Letter | Senate Letter
DEC 4
APA Joins MHLG to support Rep. Beyer’s H.R. 4309, the Barriers to Suicide Act
DEC 4
APA Joins Mental Health Liaison Group's Coalition Letter Supporting Suicide Screening in the ER
DEC 2
APA Joins Mental Health Groups to Praise STANDUP Act for Suicide Prevention
MAR 28
APA Co-Signs Letter to House Appropriations Committee Supporting Increased Crisis Set-aside Funding
2018
DEC 10
APA Submits Comments to the FCC on Implementation of the National Suicide Hotline
JUNE 8
APA Reacts to Increase in Suicide Rates, Calls for Access to Mental Health Care
MAY 18
International Coalition of Experts Releases an Alert Regarding 13 Reasons Why, Season 2
MAY 6
New Research: Opiates May Be Playing an Increasing Role in Suicides, Even Outside of Overdoses
FEB 16
Mental Health Liaison Group Urges passage of H.R. 2345 The National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2017