Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, as some are aware, today marks the 1-month anniversary of the death of my beloved life partner, Kerry Acker. What most people don't know is that Kerry's death was a suicide. Kerry was 63 years old. He shouldn't have had a care in the world. He was financially secure and had a warm, loving family and dozens of friends. He loved them all. And yet, incomprehensibly, he seemingly did not grasp the toll his absence would have on those who loved him. Why am I sharing this very personal story? Because we all need to recognize that mental health issues know no boundaries. I do not want anyone else to suffer as he suffered, nor for any family to suffer as mine has over the past month. This is a national emergency. In 2017, there were more than 47,000 suicides in this country and more than 1.4 million suicide attempts. Across our country, suicides rose by 30 percent between 1999 and 2018. Behind these numbers are grieving partners and spouses, parents and children, siblings, friends, and relatives. Every community in our country has been touched in some way by major mental health challenges. Removing the stigma cannot just be a slogan. We need to make it real through our actions. That means building a future where people truly understand that they should feel no more shame over seeking treatment for this disease than they would seeking treatment for any other disease or medical condition. To anyone out there who is struggling, I am urging you to reach out.…”