APA supports suicide prevention research and policy through a number of efforts. Recent examples include:
- Calling out a public health crisis. In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a 25% increase in suicide rates between 1999 and 2016. APA called for suicide to be recognized as a public health priority that requires a multifaceted public health approach.
- Rally for suicide research. In April 2018, APA joined multiple organizations to co-sponsor the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s first Rally to Prevent Suicide on the steps of the nation’s Capitol.
- Support for the Mental Health Telemedicine Expansion Act, H.R. 1301. APA supports legislation that expands telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries, allowing them to receive psychotherapy services through telehealth in their own home, with the goal of improving health outcomes for older adults, including those at risk of suicide.
- Support for research on gun violence. Firearms account for just over half of all suicide deaths. APA was one of 14 leading medical and public health groups to join gun violence prevention organization Giffords to urge action on gun violence. The partners sent a letter to Congress urging members to fund federal research on gun violence through the CDC.
- Supporting national suicide programs. APA has advocated for expanded funding for federal agencies that develop, evaluate and implement suicide prevention and intervention strategies, including the NIH, SAMHSA and the CDC (including CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Controlopens in new window).
- Preventing suicide deaths in veterans. APA works in a variety of ways to prevent suicide among veterans, including involvement with the REACH VET program, which analyzes data from veterans’ health records to identify those at increased risk for suicide to provide pre-emptive care and support, and advocating for safe gun storage practices among military and veteran populations.
- Improving data collection. APA supported efforts to expand the National Violent Death Reporting Systemopens in new window—which tracks both suicides and homicides—including co-hosting a congressional briefing with the Injury and Violence Prevention Network in 2015. In 2018, the system was successfully expanded to all 50 states.
