Recognizing suicide as a serious public health problem and expressing support for the designation of September as "National Suicide Prevention Month" as well as September 10, 2025, as "World Suicide Prevention Day".
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 697
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-10: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-10-01T08:05:44Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 697) aims to highlight suicide as a major public health crisis in the United States, drawing on statistics from federal agencies to emphasize its impact across age groups, genders, and populations. It expresses congressional support for raising awareness through the designation of September as "National Suicide Prevention Month" and September 10, 2025, as "World Suicide Prevention Day," aligning with international efforts led by the World Health Organization.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes a series of "Whereas" clauses citing data from agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and National Institutes of Health (NIH) to underscore the scale of suicide, including:
- Suicide as a top cause of death for ages 10-64 (eighth overall) and second for ages 10-34 in 2023, with 49,316 deaths that year (about one every 11 minutes).
- Higher rates of suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts among adults (14.3 million with serious thoughts in 2024) and adolescents (2.6 million with serious thoughts the previous year), though adolescent trends show some decline from 2021-2024 due to prevention efforts.
- Elevated risks for veterans (6,407 suicides in 2022, averaging 17.6 per day, up from 16.4 in 2001, but lower than in 12 of the prior 14 years) and postpartum women (20-39% of maternal deaths, though often excluded from standard maternal mortality data).
- Gender disparities (men's rate four times higher than women's in 2022) and the role of stigma in preventing help-seeking.
The core "Resolved" section directs the House of Representatives to:
- Recognize suicide as a preventable public health issue.
- Support the designations of "National Suicide Prevention Month" and "World Suicide Prevention Day."
- Prioritize suicide prevention.
- Acknowledge that no single approach fits all groups and that suicide often stems from impulsive moments of despair rather than a single cause.
- Affirm the equal importance of mental health to physical health.
- Encourage strategies to expand access to mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention services.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no changes to existing laws or statutes. It serves as a formal expression of the House's views rather than enacting enforceable policy.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: May indirectly encourage agencies like CDC, SAMHSA, VA, and NIH to continue or expand data collection, research (e.g., on gender and postpartum risks), and prevention programs, such as the Veterans Crisis Line, which showed a 22.5% lower suicide rate post-contact in 2022 compared to 2019.
- On citizens: Raises public awareness to reduce stigma, potentially increasing help-seeking and supporting prevention efforts, especially for vulnerable groups like youth, veterans, men, and new mothers. It highlights progress (e.g., declining adolescent trends) to build momentum for further action.
- On international relations: Supports a global observance (World Suicide Prevention Day), fostering alignment with international health initiatives without direct diplomatic effects.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- At-risk populations: Youth (ages 10-34), veterans, men, postpartum women, and adolescents, who face higher suicide risks or barriers to care.
- General public: All Americans, through increased awareness of mental health as equally vital to physical health and the impulsivity of suicide.
- Mental health and advocacy groups: Organizations focused on suicide prevention, benefiting from congressional endorsement to amplify their work.
- Healthcare providers and communities: Those delivering mental health, substance abuse, and crisis services, as the resolution calls for tailored, accessible strategies.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: None directly, as this is a symbolic resolution without legal force or constitutional challenges. It does not allocate funds or mandate actions.
- Political: Demonstrates strong bipartisan support, with over 50 cosponsors from both parties, signaling broad congressional consensus on mental health priorities. It could influence future legislation by framing suicide prevention as a national imperative, potentially paving the way for funding or policy enhancements in areas like veteran care or maternal health data inclusion.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (54)
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30], Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] and 4 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-10: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-09-10: Submitted in House
- 2025-09-10: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Recognizing suicide as a serious public health problem and expressing support for the designation of September as "National Suicide Prevention Month" as well as September 10, 2025, as "World Suicide Prevention Day". — issued 2025-09-10 — PDF (5 pages)