Today, Congressman Chris Stewart’s (UT-02) National Suicide Hotline Designation Act and Suicide Prevention Act passed the House. 

The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act has now passed the Senate, House, and will now head to the President’s Desk to become Law. The Suicide Prevention Act will now be taken up in the Senate. Following passage of these two bills, Congressman Stewart issued the following statement: 

“This is a great day for our nation. Those who find themselves in a mental health crisis will now have the extra support that they need. I’ve met with many across Utah whose loved ones have taken their own life. I’ve heard their stories, I’ve heard their pleas for help, and today, I am proud that we are able to provide a vital resource to those who need it most. This easy-to-remember hotline will save lives. Paired with the real-time data collection from my Suicide Prevention Act, we will be more equipped to help reverse the tragic trend of suicide. Every life matters and we can all do our part to prevent suicide by providing love and support to our neighbors who may be struggling.” – Rep. Chris Stewart

Congressman Stewart spoke on the House floor this evening in support of the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act. watch his remarks here or below.

The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act was introduced by Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) and Seth Moulton (D-MA). Companion Legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Jack Reed (D-RI). 

The Suicide Prevention Act was introduced by Congressman Chris Stewart (R-UT) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA). Companion Legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators John Kennedy (R-LA) and Jack Reed (D-RI).

Following the passage of the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) issued the following statement:

“When your house is on fire, you can get help by calling 9-1-1. A year-and-a-half ago, we set a goal to make it just as easy to get help in a mental health emergency. Today we finished the job and made 988 the national number for mental health emergencies,” Moulton said. “This is a win for every American who has been affected by a mental illness. It is a national step forward out of the shadows of stigma that prevent too many people from seeking help into a new era where mental health care is easy to get and normal to talk about. I’m so proud of my team and the partners that got this done. This will save tens of thousands of lives every day.” 

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention also issued a statement of support:

“The historic passage of the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act will bring our national crisis response system into the 21st century. The designation of the 9-8-8 hotline number will make life-saving suicide prevention resources more accessible for people in emotional distress and we applaud Congressman Stewart’s leadership on this legislation.”

More about Rep. Stewart’s Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Efforts:

In 2017, Rep. Stewart and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) began the process to designate a three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline by introducing the National Suicide Prevention Hotline Improvement Act. This legislation called for a study to determine the best three-digit dialing code.  Read the full press release here.

In 2018, Congressman Stewart’s National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act became law. Read the full press release here.

In 2019, Rep. Stewart Designated “9-8-8” as the universal telephone number for the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Hotline. Read the full press release here.

The Congressman also became lead co-sponsor of the Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act. This legislation would raise college students’ awareness of existing suicide prevention resources. Learn more here.

He also held a youth suicide prevention round table in Central Utah to discuss the troubling spike in suicide attempts and deaths among youth in Utah. The local community gathered at this event to share their stories and hear Rep. Stewart’s plan to combat suicide and make existing resources more accessible to those in emotional distress. Read the full press release here.

In addition, Rep. Stewart, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, secured an additional $3 million (for a total of $20 million) for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Read the full press release here.

In 2020, Rep. Stewart introduced the Suicide Prevention Act. This bipartisan legislation enhances data collection and sharing, as appropriate, in real-time, to help save lives. It also provides resources for preventing suicide among emergency department patients. Learn more here. 

The Congressman also called on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to preserve mental health services for LGBTQ youth throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. Read the full press release here.

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