Suicide prevention research is vitally important to understanding how we can prevent suicide. The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) believes that the Federal Government must substantially increase funding of suicide research in the hopes of obtaining similar reductions in mortality that have resulted from strategic investments in other major public health concerns, like HIV/AIDS, heart disease, prostate, breast and colorectal cancer. The AAS urges members of Congress to carefully evaluate the recently (2/12/14) released recommendations from a three-year study of the Research Prioritization Task Force (RPTF) of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. This report lays out six prioritized approaches for allocating funds and monitoring future suicide research to ensure that available resources target research with the greatest likelihood of reducing suicide morbidity and mortality. These six approaches include: 1) Research examining why people become suicidal to discover models that explain contagion as well as resilient healthy social connections among at-risk groups and to determine if processes that reduce risk conditions (e.g., insomnia, addiction, agitation, pain, etc.) also mitigate suicide risk. 2) Research looking at which interventions are effective and what prevents individuals from engaging in suicidal behavior. This includes identifying feasible and effective, fast acting interventions and finding interventions for the highest risk groups in care or community settings. Specific detailed information can be found at suicide-research-agenda.org PHONE OR EMAIL MESSAGE AAS urges Senator X to support (S.2035) or Representative Y to support (H.R. 4075) the Suicide Prevention Research INnovaTion Act of 2014 (SPRINT ACT) S. 2035 (Begich D-AK) and H.R. 4075 (Barber-AZ-2) , the Suicide Prevention and Research Innovation Act (SPRINT), provides funding to the National Institute of Mental Health to support suicide prevention and brain research. Including studies designed to reduce the risk of self-harm, suicide, and interpersonal violence, especially in rural communities with a shortage of mental health services. New funding of $40 million a year, 2015 through 2019. CONTACT POINTS US Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121 Website to find email contact info senate.gov or house.gov
Posted on: Fri, 28 Feb 2014 04:18:06 +0000
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