Suicide prevention programs reauthorized under Murkowski bill

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently introduced a bipartisan bill that would help deliver increased federal resources for schools, colleges and universities across the country to address mental health and to prevent suicides among students. 

Named to honor the son of former U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) — who died by suicide in 2004 in his college apartment — the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization of 2022, S. 4271, would renew the law that is scheduled to expire at the end of September without action from Congress, according to Sen. Murkowski’s office.

“I’ve long been involved in leading the reauthorization of this bipartisan legislation that will strengthen our mental health services, increase support efforts, and ultimately save lives,” said Sen. Murkowski, who helped craft and pass the original Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act in 2004, and was the lead Republican on the bill’s last reauthorization in 2016.

Sen. Murkowski introduced S. 4271 on May 19 alongside bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) to increase federal funding for competitive grants to help states, colleges, universities, and tribes improve mental and behavioral health counseling services, according to a bill summary provided by the senators.

Specifically, S. 4271 would authorize the federal government to award up to $71 million annually to help states and non-profit institutions prevent youth suicide, including $50 million in state and tribal grants; $9 million for the national Suicide Prevention Resource Center; and $12 million for campus grants, the summary says.

“Tragically, the fourth-leading cause of death in Alaska is suicide,” Sen. Murkowski said. “The impact of a death by suicide sends ripples of pain that sticks with families and communities forever. Unfortunately, the negative impacts of the pandemic have only exacerbated these issues — and is a reminder of why we need to act, so we can save lives and help people.”

The Rural Alaska Community Action Program Inc., and the Alaska Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention endorsed S. 4271, which has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.