After the recent suicides of celebrities Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade–symptoms of a broader rise in suicides nationwide–a silver lining is that Congress and the White House last week came together to pass a new law designed to help people suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts more easily access help, including the possible creation of a new phone lifeline that’s easier to remember. The national hotline’s current phone number is difficult to remember (1-800-273-TALK), and moving to an easily-remembered code, similar to 911, can more quickly connect patients specifically with mental health professionals. For CNN, I wrote about the need for this new law, including background on an episodic struggle with depression I experienced in the early 2000s. Tragically, I’ve had family and friends who committed suicide. I have struggled with depression due to family estrangement (I wrote about my struggle in The Washington Post), and thankfully was able to get the medical attention I needed to prevent a deeper unraveling. Many, however, are not as fortunate. America’s suicide rates have risen nearly 30% since 1999, with the Center For Disease Control and Prevention reporting nearly 45,000 people committing suicide in the United States in 2016. What’s more, in 54% of suicide cases in…
See original post: OP-ED: A Glimmer of Hope as Congress and White House Cross Party Lines to Prevent Suicides