releases: https://www.gardner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/what-they-are-saying-gardners-9-8-8-suicide-hotline-moves-forward
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.gardner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/what-they-are-saying-gardners-9-8-8-suicide-hotline-moves-forward | What They Are Saying: Gardner’s 9-8-8 Suicide Hotline Moves Forward | 2019-12-13 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | CO | Cory Gardner | G000562 | www.gardner.senate.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Cory Gardner's (R-CO) push to establish 9-8-8 as the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline took two critical steps forward this week. On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously approved Gardner's National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, S. 2661. On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to designate 9-8-8 as the three-digit number for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. What mental health groups and veterans service organizations are saying about Senator Gardner's legislation: We are thrilled that the bipartisan National Suicide Hotline Designation Act passed unanimously out of committee this week. The rate of suicide continues to increase in Colorado. Addressing mental health services is critically important, and with that comes quick access to resources. Colorado Access strongly supports the creation of a three-digit, universal number for those who are experiencing a mental health crisis to more easily reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, said Gretchen McGinnis, senior vice president of healthcare systems and accountable care at Colorado Access. The Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW) commends Senator Cory Gardner's (R-CO) tireless efforts and leadership in championing the bipartisan bill, National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2019 (S. 2661), to designate 9-8-8 as the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. A dedicated, easily recognizable number for suicide prevention would not only quickly connect those in need with someone who can help, but also attenuate the stigma surrounding mental health conditions, said Pamela Greenberg, MPP, President and CEO, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW). As suicide rises to the tenth-leading cause of death in the U.S., we want to thank Senator Cory Gardner for his commitment to finding a meaningful solution to our nation's suicide crisis by establishing a new, national suicide prevention hotline, said Chuck Ingoglia, president and chief executive officer of the National Council for Behavioral Health. The decision by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation this week to approve Senator Gardner's bipartisan bill designating 9-8-8 as the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline will make it substantially easier for people to obtain help in a time of crisis and ultimately save lives. It's incredible to see the bipartisan support for this lifesaving bill come from across the Hill, ensuring the critical nature of what it provides is held intact, said Colleen Creighton, Executive Director of American Association of Suicidology. We know this unique, three-digit hotline will provide Americans with the support they desperately need and are happy to see our legislators agree. In a recent op-ed, leaders from Centerstone, Mental Health America, RI International, National Council for Behavioral Health, National Alliance for Mental Illness, The Trevor Project, American Association of Suicidology, and Behavioral Health Link wrote: For too long, our system for mental health crisis services has been underfunded and undervalued. The current responsibility for 9-1-1 to handle mental health and suicide crises creates confusion, unnecessary delays and insufficient responses during people's most difficult moments. Establishing 9-8-8 as a separate, universal three-digit telephone number will reach those in need while simultaneously reducing the burden on 9-1-1 for mental health emergencies. Connecting a person in crisis with mental health care to address their immediate needs will also increase access to a continuum of care that can often feel out of reach for people with mental illness. A direct line to mental health professionals through a 3-digit number will provide unprecedented access to care and undoubtedly save lives. "The Senate Commerce Committee took an important step to advance suicide prevention resources for all Americans with the markup of S. 2661. The Trevor Project is especially encouraged by the inclusion of language requiring the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to create a distinct plan for LGBTQ youth who are disproportionately impacted by the suicide crisis in the U.S. to access specialized service through the Lifeline. We thank Senators Gardner and Baldwin for listening to the voices of LGBTQ Americans, and look forward to working with SAMHSA to strengthen the Lifeline for the future," said Sam Brinton, Head of Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project. Ensuring Veterans and at-risk groups have a simple, reliable way to access mental health services is vital to combatting our nation's suicide crisis, said Melissa Bryant, National Legislative Director of The American Legion. Interventions work. We are proud to support this legislation as a critical step toward tackling this public health crisis. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) applauds the Senators' efforts to establish a national three-digit suicide prevention hotline number. Having an easy to remember number will ensure that individuals across the country who are in emotional distress will have ready access to crisis services that can save lives, said American Foundation for Suicide Prevention CEO Bob Gebbia. AMVETS realizes the importance of establishing barrier-free communication channels for veterans who need immediate help, which is why we created a helpline for veterans who need to talk to someone immediately. When a veteran in crisis calls us, we work closely with the Veterans Crisis Line and refer those veterans regularly. Every day we encourage veterans to reach out for help when they need it, whether that means calling their fellow servicemembers or calling a helpline. Changing the number of the Veteran Crisis Line to 9-8-8 gives veterans or loved ones an easy number to remember in the midst of a crisis. We hope this will encourage more people to take advantage of this resource and make the call when they are in need of help, said Sherman Gillums, Chief Advocacy Officer for American Veterans (AMVETS). The APA strongly supports the creation of a 3-digit dialing code for mental health emergencies, said American Psychiatric Association (APA) CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A. In 2015, without such a number, suicide and self-injury costs the nation $69 billion according to government data. We need a simple, 3-digit number to connect people in crisis to care. Quick access to care can save lives. Nearly half of American lesbian, gay and bisexual youth and 34 percent of transgender students have seriously considered suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These young people are more likely to experience violence, bullying at school and mental health concerns than their heterosexual peers. This bill proposes common-sense measures that would improve the national response to this serious mental health challenge or nation faces, said Arthur C. Evans, Jr., PhD, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of the American Psychological Association. TAPS supports the implementation of a 3 digit number for the National Crisis Line. We want to make it as simple as possible for those at risk to reach out and connect with care, said Kim Ruocco MSW, Vice President of Suicide Prevention and Postvention at the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). If you are in a car accident, you don't have to remember a 7-digit number to get immediate help - a mental health emergency should be no different, said National Alliance on Mental Illness' Acting CEO Angela Kimball. That's why NAMI supports the introduction of both the House and Senate versions of a bill that would establish a 3-digit, easy to remember universal number for those seeking help during a mental health crisis and for suicide prevention. The creation of a nationwide 988' number could mean the difference between life and death by diverting people from the criminal justice system and instead get them the right care when they need it most. Mental Health America strongly supports the implementation of a 3-digit hotline for those in mental health crisis, said Paul Gionfriddo, president and CEO of Mental Health America. We need to remove barriers for people seeking help in times of a mental health crisis by designating 988 as the national phone number for the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline, we will absolutely save lives. Almost half of teens who take Mental Health America's online mental health screen report thinking about suicide. We have got to make it easier for them to get help, and the three-digit 988 is a leap forward in accomplishing this. Anything we can do to make it easier for someone in crisis to gain help is vital. This bill takes a tremendous step in the right direction to connect those in need with those who can help, said Dr. Jerry Reed, Senior Vice President for Practice Leadership at Education Development Center and Executive Committee Member of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. "A simple 3-digit number to call for help can save lives. Why wouldn't we make it easier to obtain help? It just seems like the right thing to do," said Kevin Hines, founder of the Kevin and Margaret Hines Foundation. I know from my days in the military that in a crisis, simple is better. This is why Wounded Warrior Project supports S. 2661 the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2019, said Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) CEO Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Linnington. This important legislation, sponsored by Sen. Cory Gardner and co-sponsored by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, would simplify access to the National Suicide Hotline by providing a three-digit phone number to dial to connect those experiencing suicidal ideations with life-saving resources. As we work to remove barriers to mental health care and employ public health approaches to prevent tragedy before it strikes, an easy-to-remember hotline for connecting veterans in distress to experts who can help is overdue. On the behalf of Wounded Warrior Project and the veterans we serve, we thank Sens. Gardner and Baldwin for their leadership on this important issue. A dedicated three-digit number for those experiencing a mental health crisis would be a landmark step for the field of mental health; making it easier to support those in emotional pain and begin the journey toward healing, said David C. Guth, Jr., CEO of Centerstone. We applaud this legislation and support its passage because it will save lives. Over 600,000 American women who are pregnant or give birth each year suffer from a mental health disorder that can be treated. Some of those that are untreated may result in death by suicide. Having a simple 3-digit national number will be a powerful tool in our collective suicide prevention efforts which our national organization and chapters in communities will deploy, Dr. Wendy Davis, Executive Director, Postpartum Support International. Gardner's legislation is endorsed by: American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, American Association of Suicidology, American Counseling Association, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Legion, American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, American Telemedicine Association, AMVETS, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Association For Ambulatory Behavioral Health, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness, Behavioral Health Association of Providers, Behavioral Health Link, Centerstone, College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists,Colorado Access, Confederation of Independent Psychoanalytic Societies (CIPS), Depression Association of America, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Eating Disorders Coalition, Education Development Center, Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice, Illinois Association of Behavioral Health, Kennedy Forum, Kevin & Margaret Hines Foundation, Mental Health America, Mental Health Colorado, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association for Rural Mental Health, National Association of Social Workers, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, National Board for Certified Counselors, National Council for Behavioral Health, National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, National Health Care for the Homeless Council, NowMattersNow.org, Open Minds, Postpartum Support International, Residential Eating Disorders Consortium, RI International, SMART Recovery, Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, Tourette Association of America, The Trevor Project, United Suicide Survivors International, Wounded Warrior Project, 2020 Mom. ### Cory Gardner is a member of the U.S. Senate serving Colorado. He sits on the Energy & Natural Resources Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, the Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee, and is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |