WASHINGTON, DC - The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, chaired by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), today held a hearing to discuss, “Suicide Prevention and Treatment: Helping Loved Ones in Mental Health Crisis."
For the first time, former Florida Member of Congress Lincoln Diaz-Balart shared the very personal story of his own son who died by suicide last year. Diaz-Balart told the Subcommittee, “I must admit, I believed that all you need is love. I never thought our tragedy of May 19, 2013, was possible. But it was possible. Sometimes, love is not enough. Assertive, proactive intervention is sometimes required to get needed treatment to those in mental health crisis and thorough discussion of the realness with those who are sick."
The Honorable Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Former Member of Congress
Murphy noted, “Suicide is an American public health crisis, that results in more lost lives than motor vehicle crashes, homicide, or drug use. As we will hear today, it is the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24, and the second leading cause of death for adults ages 25 to 34. Each day, we lose 22 veterans to suicide. In 90 percent of suicide, an underlying diagnosis of mental illness was a contributing factor. Suicide is the very definition of a ‘mental health crisis.’"
Joel Dvoskin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona, underscored the scope of the problem, testifying, “Suicide is of such extraordinary magnitude and importance that it consistently ranks among the 10 leading causes of death in the United States. Nearly 40,000 Americans commit suicide each year - approximately 105 per day."
U.S. Acting Surgeon General Rear Admiral Boris D. Lushniak, M.D. explained, “We are all here because we know that suicide remains a serious public health problem. Although some people may perceive suicide as the act of a troubled person, it is a complex issue that is influenced by many risk and protective factors. … We also know that those who die by suicide are far from the only ones affected by this tragedy. Suicide exacts a heavy toll on those left behind as well. Loved ones, friends, classmates, neighbors, teachers, faith leaders, and colleagues all feel the effects of these deaths. Sadly, these deaths are just one measure of the challenge we face. For every American who dies by suicide, many others attempt suicide, and many others suffer the despair that leads them to consider taking their own life."
Dr. David Brent, Endowed Chair in Suicide Studies and Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Epidemiology, and Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Pittsburgh, said, “There is a need to develop and test agents that rapidly reduce depression and suicidal ideation. We need biomarkers that can identify which patients will respond to which treatments, so that we can speed up the process of matching effective treatments to patients. Since maltreatment is an important risk factor for suicidal behavior, and also predicts non-response to treatment, we need to understand why treatments don’t work for these patients and what treatments should be offered instead."
Full Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) added, “Like other areas covered by our committee’s work on 21st Century Cures, success will depend on our ability to close the gaps between advances in scientific knowledge about treating serious mental illness - which have been extensive - and how the federal government prioritizes and delivers these treatments to the most vulnerable populations. Our delivery of mental health services must keep up with the impressive pace of research and innovation in the field."
Christine Moutier, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, offered a “hopeful and actionable" message to the committee: “I believe we can accomplish the goal of reducing the suicide rate in our country 20% by 2025. Science provides clear evidence for strategies to take, and I believe the American people are ready for a greater understanding of the issue. If we push hard with an effective strategy, we can save lives."
