A resolution recognizing suicide as a serious public health problem and expressing support for the designation of September 8, 2026, as "988 Day" and the role of 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 853 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 853

 Recognizing suicide as a serious public health problem and expressing 
 support for the designation of September 8, 2026, as ``988 Day'' and 
              the role of 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 15, 2026

  Mr. Booker (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Peters) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Recognizing suicide as a serious public health problem and expressing 
 support for the designation of September 8, 2026, as ``988 Day'' and 
              the role of 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (referred 
        to in this preamble as the ``CDC''), in 2024--

    (1) suicide was the second-leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 
34;

    (2) suicide was responsible for more than 48,800 deaths, or about 1 
death every 11 minutes; and

    (3) suicide was the tenth-leading cause of death in the United States 
overall;

Whereas, according to the CDC, from 1999 through 2018, the national suicide rate 
        increased by 35 percent;
Whereas suicide and attempts have a devastating and long-lasting impact on 
        individuals, families, and communities across the United States;
Whereas over 90 percent of individuals who die by suicide were living with a 
        diagnosable mental health condition at the time of their death, 
        conditions that are frequently undiagnosed or untreated;
Whereas untreated mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and 
        substance use disorders, significantly increase the risk of suicide;
Whereas access to timely and effective mental health services and crisis support 
        is a vital component of suicide prevention;
Whereas, on July 16, 2022, 988 became the nationwide, three-digit dialing code 
        for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, now known as the 988 
        Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (referred to in this preamble as the ``988 
        Lifeline'');
Whereas the 988 Lifeline is operated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
        Services Administration (referred to in this preamble as ``SAMHSA'') and 
        connects individuals in crisis to a national network of over 200 State 
        and locally funded crisis centers that are available 24 hours a day, 7 
        days a week;
Whereas the 988 Lifeline offers services in over 240 languages, and provides 
        support through phone, chat, and TTY services for the deaf and hard of 
        hearing, as well as specialized options, including a veterans crisis 
        line and services for Spanish speakers;
Whereas, since the launch of the 988 Lifeline in July 2022, it has routed nearly 
        26,200,000 contacts, including calls, texts, and chats;
Whereas, according to SAMHSA, a recent study found that 98 percent of callers 
        reported the 988 Lifeline was helpful and 88 percent of callers said the 
        988 Lifeline prevented them from harming themselves;
Whereas, since the original launch of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 
        in 2005, annual contact volume increased steadily by approximately 14 
        percent, with the number of interactions growing from 46,000 in 2005 to 
        over 7,800,000 in 2025;
Whereas, from July 2022 to July 2026, the 988 Lifeline received 26,200,000 
        contacts, and in June 2026 alone, the 988 Lifeline received over 770,000 
        contacts, an increase of 92 percent over June 2023; and
Whereas SAMHSA annually recognizes September 8th as 988 Day, which is observed 
        by organizations nationwide to raise awareness of the service and 
        promote mental health support: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the designation of September 8, 2026, as ``988 
        Day'';
            (2) recognizes suicide as a serious and growing public 
        health concern in the United States;
            (3) commends the development and implementation of the 988 
        Suicide and Crisis Lifeline as a critical component of the 
        national mental health safety net;
            (4) encourages continued public education and outreach 
        regarding the availability and importance of the 988 Suicide 
        and Crisis Lifeline, particularly for high-risk populations;
            (5) supports Federal, State, and local efforts to expand 
        access to mental health services and crisis intervention 
        programs; and
            (6) supports the goals and ideals of 988 Day as a way to 
        recognize the essential role of the 988 Suicide and Crisis 
        Lifeline in saving lives and supporting mental health across 
        all communities in the United States.
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