Saturday, September 11, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Congress OKs suicide prevention bill
By EVAN MCLAUGHLIN
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON -- Congress approved a bill boosting federal support for youth suicide prevention on Thursday, a year after the son of an Oregon senator took his own life.
The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act was named after the son of Republican Sen. Gordon Smith. Garrett Smith, who battled depression, killed himself on Sept. 8, 2003, the day before his 22nd birthday.
The bill was approved by both houses of Congress on Thursday, the day Garrett Smith would have turned 23. Senators observed a moment of silence before approving the bill and sending it to the White House for President Bush to sign into law.
The bill passed the Senate unanimously with help from Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. Reid's father, whose name also was Harry, committed suicide in 1972.
"Garrett is the person who is the focal point of this calamity that is facing our country today," said Reid, who attended the young man's funeral with his wife, Landra.
Earlier in the day, the House passed the measure 352-64.
Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among young people, with 3,971 suicides reported for people between 15 and 24 in 2001, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
The bill authorizes $60 million over three years for youth suicide referral, training and education programs operated by states and Indian tribes. Another $22 million could be made available to colleges and universities.
The $82 million total is double what the federal government spends now, according to the Suicide Prevention Action Network USA. Congress needs to pass separate legislation appropriating the funds.
The bill also authorizes creation of a Suicide Prevention Resource Center to collect and analyze the impact of prevention programs.
