President signs Labor, Health & Human Services appropriations Bill ‘Take Action’

30 million for suicide prevention

We are pleased to report that on December 30, 2005, President Bush signed into law the Department of Labor, Heath and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2006. This law appropriates a total of $30 million for suicide prevention as follows:

$18 million for state/tribal youth suicide

prevention grants*

$5 million for campus suicide prevention grants*

$4 million for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center*

$3 million for the Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK)

* Full year 2 funding under the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act

Additionally, the Act contains language encouraging:

*the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to establish a coordinating body aimed at advancing the objectives of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention;

*the National Institute of Mental Health to strengthen its investment in understanding the clinical epidemiology of suicidal behavior and thinking in children and adolescents, improve the criteria for identifying those at risk, and examine the outcomes of actions taken to assist those found to be at risk; and

*the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to consider supporting the evaluation of suicide prevention planning, programs, and communication efforts to change knowledge and attitudes and to reduce suicide and suicidal behavior.