Congressman Dan Goldman Fights to Prevent Youth Suicide

Suicide is Third Leading Cause of Death for Children Aged 14-18, 5,000 Children Die by Suicide Every Year

Nearly 10 Percent of High School Students Attempted Suicide in 2021

Read the Bill Here

Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (MO-5) in introducing the ‘Student Suicide Prevention Act’ to combat youth suicide in schools across the country. The youth mental health crisis has catapulted youth suicide to the third leading cause of death for some students with 5,000 children dying by suicide every year.

The ‘Student Suicide Prevention Act’ would provide schools, teachers, administrators, and students nationwide with evidence-informed suicide prevention strategies, trainings, and tools to assist at-risk youth who are struggling with their mental health and would authorize Garret Lee Smith grants to be used for training school personnel in elementary and secondary schools, as well as students in secondary schools, in youth suicide awareness and prevention tools.

“As a father to five children, I'm heartbroken by the rates of youth suicide in this country,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Our children are facing an unparalleled mental health crisis, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools are one of the best resources we have to intervene – we must ensure that schools have the resources they need to support our children and reverse this devastating trend.”

The Student Suicide Prevention Act would:

• Authorize funding to states to be used for emotional well-being, mental health, and suicide awareness and prevention training for all school personnel, including auxiliary staff in elementary and secondary schools;
• Authorize funding to states for training for secondary school students to equip them with the tools they need to be aware of suicide warning signs and proper resources to report those signs to the appropriate staff;
• Allocate no less than 15 percent of grants to be used specifically for training, with an emphasis on cultural competency each school year in elementary and secondary schools; and
• Increase annual funding to $48 million to cover the costs of training

Congressman Dan Goldman is committed to addressing America’s mental health crisis.

In January of 2023, the Congressman announced he would introduce the ‘Michele Alyssa Go Act.’ This bill would ensure the ability to open up desperately needed psychiatric beds by allowing Medicaid to pay for them in facilities with more than 16 beds.

In November, Goldman cosponsored the ‘Helping Kids Cope Act’ to support pediatric behavioral health care initiatives and community-based programs in the face of the growing pediatric mental health crisis. The bill would authorize grants to improve the coordination and integration of pediatric behavioral health services across the country.

Congressman Dan Goldman is a founding member of the Congressional Dads Caucus.

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