Presidential Document2021-19923
World Suicide Prevention Day, 2021
Primary source
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Published
September 14, 2021
Signed
September 9, 2021
Issuing agencies
Executive Office of the President
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 175 (Tuesday, September 14, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 14, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 50983-50984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19923]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 175 / Tuesday, September 14, 2021 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 50983]]
Proclamation 10252 of September 9, 2021
World Suicide Prevention Day, 2021
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Today, the United States joins the World Health
Organization, the International Association for Suicide
Prevention, and nations around the world in
commemorating World Suicide Prevention Day by
``creating hope through action.'' On this day, and
every day, we remember those lives lost to suicide. We
also commit to connecting with those who are struggling
and to encouraging communities, organizations, and
governments to work together to prevent suicide.
Suicide often occurs in a moment of unbearable pain or
deep despair. Many individuals with mental health needs
are overcome with a sense of overwhelming hopelessness,
and feel they have nowhere to turn.
Already, millions of Americans consider suicide, make a
suicide plan, or attempt suicide every year--especially
young Americans for whom suicide is the second leading
cause of death. This number is even higher among LGBTQ+
and Native American youth.
In 2019, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in
the United States, and the second leading cause of
death for young people between the ages of 10 and 34.
And that was before the COVID-19 pandemic compounded,
for many, feelings of isolation, exhaustion, and
economic and public health-related anxieties. Increased
rates of depression have sparked concern that we will
see a further increase in suicide rates.
Too many of our Nation's veterans and active military
service members have also considered suicide or taken
their own lives. In many cases, they did not receive
the mental health services they need and deserve. In
order to fulfill our Nation's one sacred obligation to
care for our troops and their families, I have made
veteran suicide prevention a top priority. Earlier this
year, I was proud to sign the Sgt. Ketchum Rural
Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021 into law to provide
additional mental health care for rural veterans. In my
budget, I also requested $598 million to support the
Department of Veterans Affairs suicide prevention
outreach efforts.
I have proposed $180 million to fund suicide prevention
programs at the Department of Health and Human
Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration. This dedicated funding will support
programming that focuses on suicide prevention at every
age and stage of a person's life, as well as prevention
and intervention programs through health systems.
Knowing that our Nation's youth have been especially
vulnerable to the mental health impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic, the American Rescue Plan I signed into law
also includes $20 million in funding specifically for
youth suicide prevention.
My Administration is committed to treating suicide as
the public health problem it is and helping to address
the underlying risk factors for suicide. For example,
we are working to expand access to mental health and
substance use treatment. We are ensuring health
insurance plans act in accordance with the Paul
Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and
Addiction Equity Act of 2008, and cover these critical
services at the same level as physical health services.
[[Page 50984]]
While there is no one cause of suicide, we know there
are many factors that increase a person's risk for
suicide, including the loss of a job; serious illness;
and financial, criminal, legal, and relationship
problems.
Through the American Rescue Plan and my proposed Fiscal
Year 2022 budget, we are working to mitigate these risk
factors. The American Rescue Plan provided a third
round of economic impact payments, established a
homeowner assistance fund, and provided emergency
rental assistance.
My Administration is also committed to addressing
suicide by firearm. Firearms are responsible for over
half of all suicide deaths in the United States. That
is one of the reasons we have published model red flag
laws for States--allowing family members and law
enforcement to petition for a temporary firearms ban
for individuals who present a danger to themselves or
others. When people present a danger to themselves or
others, we must reduce their access to lethal means and
ensure they have access to mental health services and
supports.
If you or a loved one are thinking about suicide,
please know that you are not alone and help is
available 24/7 by calling the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or through the
Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. Next July,
the new Mental Health Crisis Line 9-8-8 will take
effect. By expanding the crisis line and investing in
our Nation's crisis care infrastructure, we have the
opportunity to prevent suicides and save lives.
Today, on World Suicide Prevention Day, we remember
those whom we lost to suicide, and we reconfirm our
support for the millions of Americans who struggle with
thoughts of suicide, who are suicide attempt survivors,
suicide loss survivors, and those who are working
steadfastly to prevent suicide.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of
the United States of America, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws
of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 10,
2021, as World Suicide Prevention Day. I call upon all
Americans, communities, organizations, and all levels
of government to join me in creating hope through
action and committing to preventing suicide across
America.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-
sixth.
<GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 2021-19923
Filed 9-13-21; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F1-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 14, 2021.
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