Lawmaker leading suicide prevention

WASHINGTON D.C. – Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-5th District, introduced legislation to reauthorize youth suicide prevention programs

The bipartisan programs were last renewed in the 21st Century Cures Act and are set to expire at the end of fiscal year 2022.

The programs were established under the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act to support community-based youth and young adult suicide prevention efforts, stated a representative of McMorris Rodgers.

A study found counties implementing the programs had significantly lower suicide rates for youth and young adults following implementation, which was estimated to have averted 79,000 suicide attempts.

“The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial programs save lives and give hope to young adults in need of rescue from despair. COVID-19 lockdowns have resulted in mental health emergencies, and children and young adults of all ages are in crisis,” stated Rodgers.

“A day doesn’t go by that I don’t talk to a parent in Eastern Washington who tells me their teenager is depressed. I think about the mom who told me she can’t leave her daughter alone because she harms herself. Or the mom who lost her 23-year-old son to a drug overdose after purchasing a fentanyl-laced pill he thought was Xanax.”

In Eastern Washington, the programs helped Washington State University bring additional mental health services to campus between 2016 and 2019. As a result, the university was able to implement campus-wide, collaborative trainings and help a growing number of students deal with the struggles of depression, anxiety, stress, and thoughts of suicide.

“This is an urgent time to ensure these strong bipartisan programs can continue to support youth in our communities, and I appreciate all my colleagues who are leading this bill with me. Let’s continue to build on this work for a more secure future for the next generation, especially in providing healing for those struggling with the trials of life,” said McMorris Rodgers.

The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act is named after the son of former Oregon Senator Gordon Smith. Garrett. His son died by suicide in his apartment in Utah where he attended college in 2004.