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Recognizing National Suicide Awareness Month

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 30, 2020
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark National Suicide Awareness Month.

Unfortunately, Montanans are all too familiar with the epidemic of suicide. As we have faced this ongoing public health and economic crisis, the demand for mental health services has grown.

In Gallatin County, my home, crisis response therapists have experienced a higher volume of calls. Each month they receive more calls than the last from people needing help. Centers throughout Montana are seeing similar increases.

To confront the greater demand for services and to help people in crisis, we must ensure access to necessary resources are available. One crucial resource is the national suicide hotline.

I am grateful to my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, for working with me to designate 988 as the hotline's number. I am proud of that bipartisan accomplishment.

Let's continue to provide these critical resources for those who need them the most and support them through their darkest hours.

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