WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — September is National Suicide Prevention Month and leaders are looking at ways to expand resources to help those struggling with suicide through a new legislation.
The “Stabilization to Prevent Suicide Act,” also known as the STOP Suicide Act, is a bipartisan legislation introduced in September by Congressman Jamie Raskin and Don Bacon . The goal is to give those dealing with serious thoughts of suicide the best care they need.
Wellness Wednesday: Building an ’emotional wellness toolkit’
According to the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ), in 2022, in Virginia, 1,208 people lost their lives to suicide. In Maryland there were 608 suicide deaths and in D.C., 44. These numbers contributed to a larger problem that Congressmen Raskin and Bacon are trying to tackle.
The STOP Suicide Act aims to expand effective care to help patients reduce or eliminate the dangers of suicide risk and even help manage impulses. Officials said this will also help relieve pressure on law enforcement and emergency rooms.