{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-ricketts-addresses-suicide-awareness-month/", "Video: Ricketts Addresses Suicide Awareness Month", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NE", "Pete Ricketts", "R000618", "www.ricketts.senate.gov", "ricketts", "https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list&pagenum=", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 This week during his weekly press call with Nebraska media, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) discussed efforts to combat suicide and mental health issues. Ricketts also highlighted Nebraska\u2019s success in lowering suicide rates, and the ways that he is bringing those solutions to the nation.\n\nRicketts has long been an advocate for mental health.\n\nAs Governor, he helped launch the \u201cNebraska Needs You\u201d suicide prevention campaign: a statewide Public Service Announcement that educated Nebraskans about suicide warning signs and encouraged those in crisis to seek help.\n\nHis administration created a behavioral health System of Care designed specifically to help Nebraska\u2019s youth.\n\nIt also launched the Governor\u2019s Challenge to Prevent Suicide among Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families in Nebraska.\n\nIn August, Ricketts co-sponsored the Campus Lifeline Act. This bipartisan bill would increase awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and expand resources to students nationwide. It would also increase access to student-led outreach on college campuses.\n\n\u201cOur goal is zero deaths from suicide. And until that goal is reached, I will continue to fight to improve mental health and expand resources that help prevent suicide.\n\nThis month and every month, check on your family, your friends, and your neighbors. Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone. Our loved ones should never have to face them alone.\u201d\n\nWatch the video here.\n\nTRANSCRIPT: \u201cOver the past month, I had the opportunity to travel the state and talk with many Nebraskans about the issues that matter most to them.\n\n\u201cI spent time with families, farmers, ranchers, small business owners, healthcare professionals, first responders, teachers, and students.\n\n\u201cA few weeks ago, I hosted my third annual Federal Issues Forum at the Nebraska State Fair.\n\n\u201cThis year I was joined by special guests USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Senator Fischer.\n\n\u201cWe talked about ways we are working together to support our farmers and ranchers\u2014who feed and fuel our nation.\n\n\u201cEarlier this week, I hosted Secretary Markwayne Mullin, a good friend of mine.\n\n\u201cI thanked him for FEMA\u2019s support over the past year.\n\n\u201cFrom historic wildfires, severe storms, and tornadoes\u2014 FEMA\u2019s response has helped us rebuild in the wake of these disasters.\n\n\u201cI also joined Secretary Hegseth at Offutt Airforce Base in August.\n\n\u201cWe met with our servicemen and women, thanked them for their service, and discussed military readiness opportunities.\n\n\u201cOne of my favorite parts of my job is getting to travel to communities across the state to spend time with the Nebraskans.\n\n\u201cThe August State Work Period was a great opportunity to do so.\n\n\u201cNow I\u2019m back in Washington, D.C., where I will continue supporting federal policies that protect the Good Life.\n\n\u201cSeptember is National Suicide Prevention Month.\n\n\u201cThis month is an opportunity to recommit to raising awareness, supporting people in crisis, and working together to prevent suicide.\n\n\u201cSuicide remains a leading cause of death in the United States.\n\n\u201cIn 2024, more than 48,000 Americans died by suicide.\n\n\u201cAnd more than 14 million adults had serious thoughts about committing suicide.\n\n\u201cWe can and must do more to prevent suicide by supporting those struggling with their mental health.\n\n\u201cProtecting mental health has always been a major priority of mine.\n\n\u201cAs Governor, I promoted well-being and access to support across Nebraska.\n\n\u201cI ensured every Nebraskan had access to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.\n\n\u201cThis lifeline is a simpler way for Nebraskans experiencing mental health issues to seek immediate help.\n\n\u201cWe launched the \u201cNebraska Needs You\u201d suicide prevention campaign: a statewide Public Service Announcement that educated Nebraskans about suicide warning signs and encouraged those in crisis to seek help.\n\n\u201cMy administration created a behavioral health System of Care designed specifically to help Nebraska\u2019s youth.\n\n\u201cWe also put suicide prevention tools directly in our schools.\n\n\u201cThis included training for more than 67,000 educators and school personnel to help students that are struggling.\n\n\u201cAnd we launched the Governor\u2019s Challenge to Prevent Suicide among Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families in Nebraska.\n\n\u201cThe call to defend our country comes with a cost.\n\n\u201cMany of our veterans bear the physical or psychological scars of service.\n\n\u201cWorking with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, we encouraged those in need of care to receive help.\n\n\u201cThanks to our work to improve access to and raise awareness of mental health resources, Nebraska ranked fourth in the nation for mental health.\n\n\u201cMy efforts to prevent suicide and combat our nation\u2019s mental health issues remain a top priority as a United States Senator.\n\n\u201cIn August, I co-sponsored the Campus Lifeline Act.\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan bill would increase awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and expand resources to students nationwide.\n\n\u201cIt would also increase access to student-led outreach on college campuses.\n\n\u201cPeer-to-Peer engagement plays an important role in the ability to identify students in crisis and connect them with the support they need.\n\n\u201cThis is important because our nation is experiencing an epidemic of loneliness.\n\n\u201cResearch has linked loneliness to suicidal thoughts and behaviors.\n\n\u201cI introduced the bipartisan Improving Measurements for Loneliness and Isolation Act to help combat this epidemic.\n\n\u201cRepresentative Mike Flood introduced the companion bill in the House.\n\n\u201cThis bill would establish a working group that would help experts target the root causes of loneliness.\n\n\u201cLoneliness and isolation are also serious challenges for many of our nation\u2019s veterans.\n\n\u201cVeterans experience a significantly higher suicide rate than non-veteran adults.\n\n\u201cWe must continue to provide them with the help that they need.\n\n\u201cTo build on my work as Governor, I introduced the MIND Our Veterans Act.\n\n\u201cThis bill would ensure that servicemembers receive effective, evidence-based mental health screenings prior to separation from active duty.\n\n\u201cEncouragingly, the United States has seen a decrease in suicide deaths.\n\n\u201cBut that is not enough.\n\n\u201cOur goal is zero deaths from suicide.\n\n\u201cAnd until that goal is reached, I will continue to fight to improve mental health and expand resources that help prevent suicide.\n\n\u201cThis month and every month, check on your family, your friends, and your neighbors.\n\n\u201cSuicidal thoughts can affect anyone.\n\n\u201cOur loved ones should never have to face them alone.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": 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