Assignment Policy Brief. All instructions attached Apa format

Running head: SUICIDE PREVENTION ACT

Suicide Prevention Act

· According to the govtrack website the bill I chose is a Federal bill.

· H.R. 5619, the “Suicide Prevention Act,”

· To authorize a pilot program to expand and intensify surveillance of self-harm in partnership with State and local public health departments, to establish a grant program to provide self-harm and suicide prevention services in hospital emergency departments, and for other purposes.

· This bill is in the first stage of the legislative process and introduced into Congress on May 4, 2021. (GovTrack.us., 2021).

· The bill legislative sponsors are the Representative Chris Stewart (R-UT) and Doris Matsui (D-CA).

· Suicide has become a serious issue in the USA. In the United States in 2019, suicide was the tenth highest cause of death for people of all ages (Hedegaard, M.D et al., 2021). According to the CDC website, symptoms of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder increased considerably in the United States during April–June of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019 (1,2). These symptoms and substance abuse are risks factors that can increase the risk for suicide. The bill would authorize CDC to award grants to State, local, and Tribal health departments to increase observation of self-harm and the second program would authorize the Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration (SAMSA) to award grants to hospital emergency departments for programs to prevent self-harm and suicide attempts among patients after discharge (GovTrack.us., 2021). Suicide is a major public health issue that can impact individuals, families, and communities for a long time. The goal of suicide prevention is to decrease risk variables while increasing those that encourage resilience. It will benefit many people once it is approved. 

References

Czeisler, M. E., Lane, R. I., MA3, Petrosky MD, E., Wiley, PhD1, J. F., Christensen, MPH, A., Njai, PhD3, R., Weaver, PhD, M. D., Robbins, PhD, R., Facer-Childs PhD, E. R., BargerPhD, L. K., Czeisler, MD, PhD, C. A., Howard, MBBS, PhD, M. E., & M.W. Rajaratnam, PhD, S. (2020, August 13). Mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation during the ... Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm#suggestedcitation

Hedegaard, M.D., H., Curtin, M.A., S. C., & Warner, Ph.D., M. (2021, February 19). Products - Data briefs - Number 398 - February 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db398.htm

GovTrack.us. (2021). H.R. 2955 — 117th Congress: Suicide Prevention Act. Retrieved from https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/hr2955

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