Three federal lawmakers have introduced the Child Suicide Preventon Act to address rising suicide rates among children and young adults.
The legislation would provide funding for evidence-based training on youth suicide prevention for current and future healthcare professionals, according to a March 31 news release from the office of Rep. Lauren Underwood, MSN, RN, D-Ill. The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Kim Schrier, MD, D-Wash., and Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii.
The bill also would establish a centralized database of resources for at-risk youths and their families, as well as for medical and nursing schools and healthcare professionals seeking best practices in suicide prevention.
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for individuals ages 10-24, according to CDC data cited in the release.
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