National Legislative Initiatives
AFSP continues to support the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, which provides specific funding for youth suicide prevention programs. AFSP, Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, the American Association of Suicidology and other organizations collaborated on the development of the initial legislation several years ago, and have since advocated for its passage and subsequent reauthorization. This year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced $4.5 million in suicide prevention grants for colleges and universities, and over $16 million to tribes/tribal organizations for youth suicide prevention and early intervention programs, both authorized under the GLSMA. The GLSMA is in memory of Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith's son, Garrett, who died by suicide in 2003.
In 2008, AFSP asked its constituency to contact their members of Congress to express support for mental health parity legislation that would make insurance coverage for treatment of mental disorders comparable to other illnesses. In October, the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (H.R.1424) passed in both the House and Senate, and was signed into law by the president. Together with other national suicide prevention and mental health organizations, and as part of the Mental Health Liaison Group, AFSP has advocated for over a decade for greater health insurance parity for persons with mental illness and for stopping insurance discrimination of those in need of mental health treatment. Accessible and affordable treatment for the illnesses that can lead to suicide will help save lives.
AFSP joined with SPAN USA in support of a U.S. Senate bill to prevent elderly suicide. The Foundation lent its support to the Stop Senior Suicide Act (S.1854). The bill, which SPAN USA helped to initiate, amends the Social Security Act and the Public Health Service Act, repeals the discriminatory 50 percent Medicare coinsurance rate, improves interagency coordination, and provides grants for elderly suicide early intervention and prevention strategies. This legislation was introduced in Congress by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), an honorary director of AFSP who has spoken publicly about the loss of his father to suicide. AFSP believes that this legislation is critical as elderly suicide rates are significantly higher than most other age populations, including adolescents.
In 2007, Congress approved, and the president signed into law, the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act (H.R.327). The law --endorsed by AFSP -- requires mental health training for Veterans Affairs staff, mental health screening and treatment for veterans who receive VA care and a suicide prevention counselor at each VA medical facility. It also supports outreach and education for veterans and their families, peer support counseling and research into suicide prevention. Suicide rates for young male Iraq- and Afghanistan-era veterans hit a record high in 2006, the last year for which records are available. Male veterans ages 18 to 29 who use VA services increased to 46 suicides per 100,000, compared with a rate of 20 per 100,000 among male civilians in the same age group. The bill gets its name from a 22-year-old Army Reservist who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder following an 11-month tour of duty in Iraq, and took his own life in 2005.
