U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) launched a new House Suicide Prevention Task Force on Monday to help reverse an alarming suicide rate in the United States that reached a 30-year high in 2016.
The announcement of the new bipartisan task force was formed by Katko and U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and coincides with National Suicide Prevention Week.
Suicide has impacted communities nationwide, a problem that has been worsened by the opioid crisis and a high suicide rate among veterans, Katko said.
“It is clear there is a vital need to raise awareness for suicide prevention and to reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health care.” Katko said. “I’m proud to join together with a bipartisan group of my colleagues to launch this task force so that we can work to combat the prevalence of suicide and to provide greater support for those suffering with mental health issues.”
The House Suicide Prevention Task Force is being organized within the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, which is chaired by U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA).
Robert Gebbia, CEO of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, said suicide prevention should be a high priority.
“By forming a task force, Representatives Beyer, Katko, and Napolitano are encouraging other members of Congress to recognize the importance of this issue. Their dedication and time spent on this will help save lives,” he said.