Bonnie Watson Coleman: “In 2023 we lost over 50,000 people to suicide across the country. The year before, more than 1.6 million individuals…”

“In 2023 we lost over 50,000 people to suicide across the country. The year before, more than 1.6 million individuals attempted to take their own lives. These deaths of despair disproportionately affect some communities more than others. Systemic issues such as generational trauma, racism, economic disparities, and historical oppression have compounded mental health challenges leading to an environment that has been devastating to our Black youth. For example, between 2007 and 2020, the suicide rate among Black youth ages 10 to 17 increased by 144 percent, and from 2018 to 2022, the suicide rate among Black youth ages 10 to 19 increased by 54 percent while decreasing elsewhere. Every life lost to suicide is an incomprehensible tragedy, and the heartbreaking truth is that these deaths are so preventable. That is why it is so important that we act. Our choices can make a real difference in people's lives. We have a responsibility, especially here in Congress, to ensure that resources and support are available to people who need help. In 2019, I chaired the Congressional Black Caucus' Emergency Task Force on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health. The product of that task force, the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act, would provide resources to increase access to mental health care among America's youth, as well as help train a new generation of culturally competent mental health professionals. Mr.…”