National Council to Prevent Discrimination

Transcription

  >> GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU   FOR BEING HERE.   AS THE U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TO   THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION   FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AND   DESIGNEE BY THE WORLD HEALTH   ORGANIZATION, WELCOME TO THE   OFFICIAL OPENING OF WORLD   SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY 2010.   ALSO, ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS   OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR   SUICIDE PREVENTION IN   PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MANY   FEDERAL   AGENCIES THAT YOU WILL HEAR FROM   MOMENTARILY, WE ARE GLAD YOU   HAVE JOINED US AS WE ANNOUNCE   THE NEXT U.S. EFFORTS TO PREVENT   SUICIDE IN AMERICA.   SUICIDE IS A PERSONAL AND   NATIONAL TRAGEDY LEAVING 500 TO   600 SURVIVORS WONDERING WHAT   HAPPENED, WHAT WENT WRONG, WHY   THIS HAPPENED, AND DEVASTATED   EVERY DAY IN AMERICA.   WE HAVE LOST TOO MANY PEOPLE TO   A VERY PREVENTABLE CAUSE OF   DEATH, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE   THIS WAY.   STUDIES SHOW THAT 90% OF PEOPLE   WHO DIE BY SUICIDE HAD A   PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS AT THE TIME   OF THEIR DEATH.   WHILE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN   UNDERSTANDING THE BRAIN, MUCH   REMAINS TO BE LEARNED ABOUT   MENTAL ILLNESS.   A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH CAN   LEAD TO A REDUCTION OF SUICIDE   IN AMERICA AND RESTORING BETTER   HEALTH TO THOSE LIVING WITH   THESE DEBILITATING ILLNESSES.   WE HAVE RAISED AWARENESS,   DEVELOPED TREATMENT PROGRAMS,   EDUCATED AND SUPPORTED MILLIONS.   BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE   LISTENING TODAY AND ARE   STRUGGLING   WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS WHO MIGHT   BE THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE, WE   WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT FREE AND   CONFIDENTIAL HELP IS AVAILABLE   TO YOU 24 HOURS A DAY,   7 DAYS A WEEK.   WHETHER YOU LIVE IN A RURAL   COMMUNITY OR ON A RESERVATION,   AT WORK, IN A MAJOR CITY, OR   ARE PROUDLY SERVING OR HAVE   SERVED OUR   GREAT COUNTRY, THE NATIONAL   SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE IS   READY TO TAKE YOUR CALL AND TALK   TO YOU AT 1-800-273-8255.   THERE IS HELP, AND THERE IS   HOPE, AND ALL OF US HERE TODAY   WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT.   AS A THERAPIST, HAVING WORKED   WITH MANY SUICIDAL PATIENTS, I   KNOW THAT THERE ARE NO WORDS   THAT CAN EVER FULLY DESCRIBE THE   PAIN, THE DEPTH OF DESPAIR, THE   INTENSITY, AND THE ABSOLUTE   LOSS OF ALL HOPE THAT WE FIND IN   THE MIND OF SOMEONE WHO IS   SUICIDAL.   ABRAHAM LINCOLN ONCE SAID, "IN   THE END, IT'S NOT THE YEARS IN   YOUR LIFE THAT COUNT, IT'S THE   LIFE IN YOUR YEARS."   AS WE COME TOGETHER TODAY AND   STAND UNIFIED IN THIS ROOM, AS A   NATION, TO MARK THIS DAY, I   WOULD SAY THAT IT IS THE LIVES   YOU'VE SAVED IN YOUR YEARS THAT   MATTER MOST.   AND WHEN IT COMES TO PREVENTING   SUICIDE, WE ALL HAVE THAT   OPPORTUNITY.   YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A DOCTOR TO   SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE, BUT THERE   ARE SOME BASIC THINGS TO LEARN,   NO DIFFERENT THAN CPR OR THE   SIGNS OF A STROKE.   THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SUICIDE   PREVENTION'S INITIATIVE, TAKE   FIVE TO SAVE LIVES,   TAKEFIVETOSAVELIVES.COM, WAS   DEVELOPED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE   TO TAKE 5 MINUTES TO LEARN   THE WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDE,   HELP SOMEONE WHO IS   STRUGGLING, AND SPREAD A MESSAGE   THAT SUICIDE CAN BE PREVENTED.   I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO LOG ON   TO THAT WEB SITE AND JOIN US IN   SAYING THAT SUICIDE IS NOT THE   ANSWER AND IN FACT WE CAN ALL BE   PART OF THE SOLUTION.   TODAY WE ANNOUNCE THE NEXT STEPS   IN PREVENTING SUICIDE IN   AMERICA.   WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THESE   INITIATIVES AND THE MANY WHO   WILL WORK TO ENSURE THEIR   SUCCESS WILL PROVIDE THE   NECESSARY LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT   TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SUICIDES   IN AMERICA.   IN FACT, I BELIEVE THAT THE   EFFORTS YOU ARE ABOUT TO HEAR   ABOUT WILL PROVE TO BE THE KIND   OF NATIONAL LEADERSHIP THAT MUST   BE PART OF ANY COUNTRY'S   NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION   EFFORTS FOR US TO TRULY SAVE   LIVES. WITH THAT IT IS MY GREAT   HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE   TO YOU THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE   SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL   HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION,   ADMINISTRATOR PAM HYDE.   [APPLAUSE]     >> THANK YOU, DAN.   YOUR LEADERSHIP OVER THE YEARS   IS REALLY, TRULY VALUED AND   RECOGNIZED, AWESOME, BY YOUR   PEERS.   WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.   YOU'VE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO   ACHIEVE THIS DAY AND MANY OTHER   MILESTONES IN THE HISTORY OF   SUICIDE PREVENTION, AND   ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US, WE   REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE   ORGANIZATION YOU WORK WITH.   NOW IT'S MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE   TO WELCOME SECRETARY GATES,   SECRETARY SEBELIUS, SECRETARY   McHUGH, AND SENATOR SMITH TO THE   LAUNCH OF THE NATIONAL ACTION   ALLIANCE FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION.   BOTH SECRETARY GATES AND   SECRETARY SEBELIUS ARE ON VERY   TIGHT SCHEDULES AND WILL NEED TO   DEPART AFTER THEY BOTH SPEAK.   BUT I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE   THAT SECRETARY SHINSEKI FROM THE   VETERANS ADMINISTRATION WANTED   TO BE WITH US TODAY AND COULD   NOT, SO HE IS REPRESENTED TODAY   BY UNDER SECRETARY FOR HEALTH   RANDY PETZEL.   RANDY, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU   ARE. THERE YOU ARE.   THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY   AS WELL.   SO I WANT TO SAY JUST A FEW   WORDS ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEALTH   ISSUE OF SUICIDE AND THEN   INTRODUCE THE TWO SECRETARIES,   AND WE WILL SAVE THE REST OF THE   INTRODUCTIONS FOR A LITTLE BIT   LATER. SUICIDE IS A VERY   PERSONAL ISSUE FOR THOSE OF US   TOUCHED DIRECTLY.   IT KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES OF AGE,   GENDER, ETHNICITY, INCOME, OR   PROFESSION.   THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT A LOSS   FROM SUICIDE THAT TEARS AT THE   SOUL AND CAUSES US TO QUESTION,   WHAT COULD I HAVE DONE?   COULD I HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE?   WHY DIDN'T I KNOW?   SUICIDE RIPS THROUGH THE FABRIC   OF FAMILIES, LOVED ONES,   MOTHERS, FATHERS, CHILDREN,   SPOUSES, PARTNERS, CO-WORKERS,   ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT A PERSON   WHO ATTEMPTS OR COMPLETES   SUICIDE. A TIDAL WAVE OF DOUBT,   GUILT, SOMETIMES ANGER, AND   SILENCE OFTEN ENFOLDS THE   CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY   LIKE NO OTHER EXPERIENCE. THOSE   WHO ARE SURVIVORS, SURVIVORS OF   AN ATTEMPT OR SURVIVORS   OF A LOVED ONE WHO DIES FROM   SUICIDE, ARE PROFOUNDLY AND   IRREVOCABLY CHANGED.   WE DON'T HAVE ONE LIFE TO LOSE   IN THIS WORLD, AND   WE'RE HERE TO BRING THE FULL   FORCE OF OUR NATION'S RESOURCES   TO BEAR ON CONFRONTING THE   CHALLENGE, BREAKING THE SILENCE,   AND STOPPING   THE PAIN AND SUFFERING.   WE MUST CONFRONT SUICIDE AND   SUICIDAL THOUGHTS OPENLY AND   HONESTLY AND USE EVERY   OPPORTUNITY TO HELP AND TO MAKE   A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF   THOSE TOUCHED BY THIS ISSUE.   WE AT SAMHSA ARE PROUD TO BE   SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL ACTION   ALLIANCE FOR THE PREVENTION OF   SUICIDE AND THE GARRETT LEE   SMITH MEMORIAL ACT PROGRAMS. BUT   CLEARLY ONE AGENCY'S EFFORTS ARE   NOT ENOUGH, AND SAMHSA IS NOT   ALONE IN ITS PASSION FOR THIS   WORK. EVEN WITH EACH OF OUR OWN   INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS, WHETHER AN   INDIVIDUAL PERSON, A FAMILY, OR   AN ORGANIZATION, THE NUMBER OF   DEATHS BY SUICIDE HAVE REMAINED   RELATIVELY UNCHANGED OVER A LONG   PERIOD OF TIME,   AND THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE,   ESPECIALLY WHEN WE KNOW THAT   IT'S PREVENTABLE.   TO TAKE ON THE NATIONAL   CHALLENGE OF SUICIDE PREVENTION,   WE HAVE GATHERED INDIVIDUALS   FROM THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF   GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE   SECTOR TO LAUNCH A NEW   TRAJECTORY IN THE RELATIVELY   SHORT HISTORY OF SUICIDE   PREVENTION MOVEMENT. SO TODAY   WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE THE   SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, ROBERT   GATES, HERE WITH US. SECRETARY   GATES HAS PLEDGED THE SUPPORT OF   THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT FOR THE   WORK OF THE ACTION ALLIANCE.   HE'LL TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE   ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE.   BEFORE WE HEAR FROM SECRETARY   GATES, IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO WORK   FOR AND INTRODUCE ANOTHER PERSON   COMMITTED TO PREVENTING   SUICIDE, HEALTH AND HUMAN   SERVICES SECRETARY KATHLEEN   SEBELIUS. YOU CERTAINLY KNOW   THAT SECRETARY SEBELIUS   IS A CHAMPION FOR HEALTH CARE   REFORM IN THIS COUNTRY.   WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT   SHE'S ALSO BEEN A CHAMPION FOR   BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL   HEALTH PREVENTION. FROM SAMHSA'S   POINT OF VIEW, BOTH SECRETARY   SEBELIUS AND SECRETARY GATES GET   IT. THEY GET THAT BEHAVIORAL   HEALTH, PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH IS   ESSENTIAL TO THE INDIVIDUAL   HEALTH AND ADVANCING THE HEALTH   OF OUR NATION.   THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF   MENTAL AND SUBSTANCE USE   DISORDERS MUST BE PART OF THE   EQUATION FOR A HEALTHIER   AMERICAN.   GONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN MENTAL   ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ARE   AN AFTERTHOUGHT.   BOTH SECRETARY SEBELIUS AND   SECRETARY GATES ARE HERE TODAY   TO HELP BREAK THE SILENCE   ASSOCIATED WITH SUICIDE AND   ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO TALK   ABOUT IT, AND CALL ON ALL OF US   TO JOIN A NATIONAL COLLABORATIVE   EFFORT TO PREVENT THIS PUBLIC   HEALTH TRAGEDY.   SPEAKING FIRST, IT'S MY PLEASURE   TO INTRODUCE TO YOU A TERRIFIC   ADVOCATE AND BOSS, SECRETARY   KATHLEEN SEBELIUS.   [APPLAUSE]     >> WELL, THANK YOU, PAM,   AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TERRIFIC   WORK AT SAMHSA AND FOR THIS KIND   OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.   I THINK PAM IS THE KIND OF   LEADER WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT   PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS   AND LEVERAGING EVERYONE'S ASSETS   IS THE BEST WAY TO SOLVE ANY   CHALLENGE.   AND ONCE AGAIN YOU'VE BROUGHT   TOGETHER A TERRIFIC GROUP.   WE STILL HAVE A HEALTH CARE   SYSTEM THAT EXCLUDES TENS OF   MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WITH   MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE   ABUSE DISORDERS.   BUT WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE PAM   AND HER TEAM WORKING DAY IN AND   DAY OUT TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE   GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO   RECOVER.   AND THERE'S NO AREA OF WORK THAT   THEIR NEEDS ARE MORE URGENT   THAN IN PREVENTING SUICIDE.   EVERY YEAR STILL IN THE UNITED   STATES, SUICIDE CLAIMS OVER   34,000 LIVES.   FOR EVERY TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE   MURDERED, 3 DIE BY SUICIDE.   THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF ONE   SUICIDE IN THE U.S. EVERY 15   MINUTES, ALMOST 100 SUICIDES A   DAY.   SO TODAY ON WORLD SUICIDE   PREVENTION DAY, THE DEPARTMENT   OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS   RELEASING NEW NUMBERS THAT SHOW   JUST HOW BIG A CHALLENGE WE   FACE.   IN THE PAST YEAR, MORE THAN   8 MILLION AMERICANS 18 YEARS   AND OLDER THOUGHT SERIOUSLY   ABOUT COMMITTING SUICIDE,   MORE THAN TWO MILLION HAD A   SUICIDE PLAN,   AND MORE THAN ONE MILLION   ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THEIR OWN   LIVES. THOSE NUMBERS ARE QUITE   TROUBLING.   SUICIDE IS THE THIRD LEADING   CAUSE OF DEATH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE   AGE 15 TO 24,   AND WE'RE SEEING SUICIDE RATES   AMONG YOUNG AMERICAN INDIANS AND   NATIVE ALASKANS THAT ARE TWICE   THAT HIGH.   OTHER GROUPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE--   FOR INSTANCE, YOUNG LATINOS AND   LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND   TRANS-GENDER YOUTH--ALSO HAVE   ALARMINGLY HIGHER   RATES OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.   SO FOR SOME GROUPS ACROSS THE   COUNTRY, LIKE MIDDLE-AGED MEN,   SUICIDE RATES ARE ACTUALLY   CLIMBING.   WE'RE ALSO SEEING DANGEROUS   TRENDS IN OUR ARMED FORCES.   THIS JUNE, THE ARMY SAW THE MOST   DEATHS FROM SUICIDE IT'S EVER   RECORDED IN A ONE-MONTH PERIOD.   ALL OF THESE DEATHS ARE EVEN   MORE TRAGIC BECAUSE   WE KNOW THEY'RE PREVENTABLE.   ROUGHLY 90% OF THE PEOPLE WHO   DIE BY SUICIDE SUFFERED FROM   DEPRESSION OR SOME OTHER   DIAGNOSABLE CONDITION AT THE   TIME OF THEIR DEATH.   WE KNOW WHAT STEPS WE NEED TO   TAKE TO PREVENT SUICIDE THANKS   IN PART TO THE NATIONAL STRATEGY   FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION,   A ROADMAP THE OFFICE OF THE   SURGEON GENERAL ISSUED NEARLY A   DECADE AGO.   NOW, GUIDED BY THAT ROADMAP,   GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AT ALL   LEVELS, SCHOOLS, NONPROFIT   ORGANIZATIONS, AND BUSINESSES   STEP FORWARD   WITH PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS,   AND WE NOW HAVE TOOLS WE DIDN'T   HAVE BEFORE.   WE HAVE A NATIONAL SUICIDE   PREVENTION RESOURCE CENTER.   WE HAVE A BEST PRACTICES   REGISTRY,   THE SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE,   THE NATIONAL AND VIOLENT DEATH   REPORTING SYSTEM.   WE HAVE IMPROVED PREVENTION   PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING, AND WE   HAVE BETTER RISK DETECTION.   AS A RESULT OF THOSE CHANGES,   WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY MADE SOME   PROGRESS,   FOR EXAMPLE, IN FALLING SUICIDE   RATES AMONG SOME GROUPS LIKE   YOUNG TEENS AND OLDER MEN. WE   HAVE ALSO PASSED IMPORTANT   BREAKTHROUGH LEGISLATION LIKE   THE MENTAL HEALTH PARODY ACT AND   THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT THAT   WILL GIVE ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH   MEDICAL AND MENTAL AND   SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER BETTER   ACCESS TO THE CARE THEY NEED.   AND WHILE THESE EFFORTS ARE   BRINGING INCREASED DETENTION AND   TREATMENT, PROGRESS, AT BEST, IS   UNEVEN.   AND PART OF THE REASON WHY WE'VE   NEVER FOLLOWED THROUGH ON ALL   THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS THAT ONE   KEY RECOMMENDATION IS ON THE   SIDE FROM THE SURGEON GENERAL'S   REPORT, THAT WE ESTABLISH A   COORDINATED, NATIONWIDE SUICIDE   PREVENTION STRATEGY.   TODAY WE'RE PUTTING THAT MISSING   PIECE IN PLACE BY CREATING THE   NATIONAL ACTION ALLIANCE FOR   SUICIDE PREVENTION.   THE NATIONAL ACTION ALLIANCE IS   NOT JUST ANOTHER HIGH-LEVEL   COMMITTEE THAT WILL HOLD A FEW   MEETINGS AND WRITE A REPORT.   IT'S A PUBLIC/PRIVATE   COLLABORATION WITH REAL   RESPONSIBILITY   TO TAKE THE STEPS NEEDED TO   ACCELERATE OUR WORK IN SUICIDE   PREVENTION, INCLUDING BETTER   RESEARCH, BETTER PROTOCOLS FOR   INSTITUTIONS, BETTER TRAINING   FOR COUNSELORS AND PRIMARY CARE   AMONG OTHERS.   THE ALLIANCE WILL UPDATE IN   ADVANCE THE NATIONAL STRATEGY,   DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A   NATIONWIDE PUBLIC AWARENESS   CAMPAIGN,   AND FOCUS ON THE MOST HIGH-RISK   POPULATIONS.   THE ALLIANCE'S MARCHING ORDERS   WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY EXPERTS   AND ADVOCATES FROM THE PUBLIC   AND PRIVATE SECTORS FROM THE   PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY, EVERY   LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT,   RESEARCHERS, HEALTH CARE   PROVIDERS, SURVIVORS, BUSINESS   AND FAITH LEADERS, AND THE ARMED   FORCES.   EACH MEMBER OF THE ALLIANCE   BRINGS SUICIDE PREVENTION   EXPERTISE   AND RESOURCES AND EXPERIENCE TO   THE TABLE   THAT COULD NEVER BE RALLIED IF   THEY WERE WORKING ALONE.   AND I WANT TO PAUSE AND JUST   THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE   ALLIANCE, MANY OF WHOM ARE WITH   US TODAY, FOR STEPPING UP AND   ACCEPTING THIS CRITICAL   CHALLENGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR   SERVICE, AND THANK YOU FOR THE   WORK YOU'RE GOING TO DO.   WE'RE CREATING THE ALLIANCE AT A   TIME WHEN WE'RE ALREADY   BUILDING NEW PARTNERSHIPS IN   THIS AREA.   LAST JUNE I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY   TO JOIN THE DEPARTMENT OF   DEFENSE AND THE VETERANS   ADMINISTRATION AT A CONFERENCE   ON REINTEGRATING RETURNING ARMED   SERVICES MEMBERS.   AT THAT CONFERENCE, WE DISCUSSED   THE SUICIDE RATES AMONG OUR   SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN,   AND ONE OF THE OUTCOMES OF THE   CONFERENCE WAS A MEMORANDUM OF   UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN OUR   AGENCIES TO MAKE SURE THAT   SERVICEMEMBERS AND THEIR   FAMILIES GET THE SERVICES AND   SUPPORT THEY NEED TO RETURN TO   CIVILIAN LIFE. AND I'M PLEASED   TODAY TO BE JOINED WITH MY   COLLEAGUE SECRETARY   GATES TO ANNOUNCE THIS EFFORT.   BOTH THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT AND   THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION   WILL BE REPRESENTED ON THE   PUBLIC SECTOR SIDE OF THE   ALLIANCE,   WHICH WILL BE CO-CHAIRED BY THE   SECRETARY OF THE ARMY, JOHN   McHUGH.   WE'LL ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES   FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF   EDUCATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF   JUSTICE, THE BUREAU OF   INDIAN AFFAIRS, AND MANY   OPERATING DIVISIONS AT HHS.   OUR PRIVATE SECTOR CO-CHAIR IS   SENATOR GORDON SMITH.   SENATOR SMITH IS AND HAS   BEEN A LEADING LIGHT FOR   SUICIDE PREVENTION AND   THE MAN BEHIND THE STATE TRIBAL   AND COLLEGE PREVENTION AND   AWARENESS PROGRAMS THAT THE   SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL   HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION   OPERATE UNDER THE GARRETT LEE   SMITH MEMORIAL ACT.   PRIVATE AND NON-PROFIT   ORGANIZATIONS HAVE DONE SO MUCH   TO RAISE   AWARENESS ABOUT SUICIDE AND TO   GET THE COUNTRY TO FOCUS ON   SOLUTIONS.   SO I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE   SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL,   PHILANTHROPIC, AND FAITH-BASED   GROUPS WHO ARE PART OF THE   NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SUICIDE   PREVENTION AND ARE WITH US HERE   TODAY.   SUICIDE IS A TRAGEDY WITH A   POTENTIAL TO TOUCH EVERY   AMERICAN.   NOW, THANKS TO THE BEST MINDS   WHO HAVE AGREED TO BE PART OF   THE NATIONAL ACTION ALLIANCE FOR   SUICIDE PREVENTION, WE'LL BE   ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER MORE   EFFECTIVELY TO REACH THOSE   PEOPLE AT RISK AND TO HELP THEM   STAY SAFE. NOW I'D LIKE TO TURN   OVER TO OUR PARTNER IN THIS   EFFORT, SECRETARY GATES.   [APPLAUSE]     >> THANK YOU, KATHLEEN.   THE LAUNCH OF THE NATIONAL   ACTION ALLIANCE FOR SUICIDE   PREVENTION IS AN IMPORTANT AND   TIMELY EFFORT.   AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, MY TOP   INSTITUTIONAL PRIORITY IS   TAKING CARE OF THOSE WHO HAVE   BORNE THE BURDEN AND PAID THE   PRICE FOR PROTECTING OUR NATION.   THAT INCLUDES DOING EVERYTHING   POSSIBLE TO PREVENT MILITARY   SUICIDES.   IT IS ALWAYS A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY   TO SEE A SERVICEMEMBER SAFELY   OFF THE BATTLEFIELD ONLY TO LOSE   THEM TO THIS SCOURGE. WE CAN,   WE MUST, AND WE WILL DO BETTER.   SOME CONTEXT TO THE CHALLENGES   WE FACE:   OUR MILITARY HAS BEEN AT WAR FOR   NEARLY A DECADE, THE LONGEST   WAR IN OUR HISTORY.   THE POST-9/11 CAMPAIGNS HAVE   DEMANDED REPEATED AND EXTENDED   DEPLOYMENTS AND EXPOSURE TO   COMBAT, PLACING UNPRECEDENTED   STRESSES ON OUR TROOPS, THEIR   FAMILIES, AND THEIR SUPPORT   NETWORKS.   ADVANCES IN PROTECTIVE AND   BATTLEFIELD MEDICINE HAVE   ALLOWED MORE OF OUR WAR FIGHTERS   TO SURVIVE THEIR WOUNDS,   BUT THE SURVIVORS OFTEN SUFFER   FROM TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY,   POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS, AND OTHER   PSYCHOLOGICAL AILMENTS, ALL   FACTORS THAT CAN INCREASE THE   RISK OF SUICIDE.   WE ARE ALSO CONFRONTING A   HISTORICAL STIGMA ATTACHED TO   THESE KINDS OF WOUNDS,   A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING THAT   THEY, TOO, ARE AN INEVITABLE   CONSEQUENCE OF COMBAT,   THAT THOSE FIGHTING TO RECOVER   DESERVE RESPECT FOR THEIR   SACRIFICE AS WELL AS THE BEST   STATE-OF-THE-ART CARE.   THE DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN STEPS   TO ALLEVIATE THE STRESS ON THE   FORCE IN GENERAL AND TO HELP   THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING AND AT   RISK.   SOME OF THOSE STEPS INCLUDE   EXPANDING THE SIZE OF THE ARMY   AND THE MARINE CORPS IN ORDER TO   INCREASE THE TIME AT HOME FOR   THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN MOST   FREQUENTLY DEPLOYED;   ADDING MORE THAN 2,000 MENTAL   HEALTH PROVIDERS TO MILITARY   TREATMENT FACILITIES, PART OF AN   ONGOING EXPANSION EFFORT TO   INCREASE ACCESS TO THEIR   SERVICES;   IMPROVING THE COORDINATION AND   PUBLICITY OF AVAILABLE SERVICES   FOR NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS AND   THEIR FAMILIES, WHO OFTEN DON'T   HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME SUPPORT   SYSTEMS AS ACTIVE-DUTY TROOPS.   WE'VE ALSO TAKEN MEASURES TO   CHANGE THE CULTURE   AND ATTITUDES OF OUR MILITARY.   TROOPS SHOULD KNOW THAT THEIR   CAREERS AND SECURITY CLEARANCES   ARE NOT AT RISK WHEN THEY SEEK   THE PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP THEY   NEED.   AND I'D LIKE TO HONOR ALL OF   THOSE, FROM JUNIOR ENLISTED   MEMBERS TO SENIOR OFFICERS SUCH   AS ARMY GENERAL CARTER HAM, WHO   HAVE COME FORWARD TO TELL THEIR   STORIES OF SURVIVAL AND RECOVERY   AND THUS GIVE HOPE TO MANY OF   THEIR COMRADES.   AS WITH ALMOST EVERY ISSUE IN   OUR MILITARY, PROGRESS ON THIS   FRONT COMES DOWN TO LEADERSHIP   AMONG THOSE IN COMMAND AND   LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, INCLUDING   JUNIOR OFFICERS AND NCO's,   CLOSEST TO THE ISSUE.   THEY NEED TO AGGRESSIVELY   ENCOURAGE THOSE UNDER THEM TO   SEEK HELP IF NEEDED AND ALSO SET   AN EXAMPLE BY DOING THE SAME.   IN EVERYTHING WE DO, WE MUST   REMEMBER THAT EVERY SOLDIER,   SAILOR, AIRMAN, OR MARINE IS   PART NOT JUST OF THE MILITARY,   BUT ALSO OF A LARGER   COMMUNITY. THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR   HOMETOWNS, THEIR CIVILIAN   EMPLOYERS, THEIR PLACES OF   WORSHIP--ALL MUST BE INVOLVED IN   THE SOLUTION. TO THAT END, THE   ALLIANCE'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE   MEMBERSHIP IS A WELCOME   PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP   INCLUDING ALL SECTORS   THAT NEED TO BE INVOLVED FOR A   SUCCESSFUL NATIONWIDE SUICIDE   PREVENTION STRATEGY.   AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME   PERSONALLY BECAUSE MANY YEARS   AGO, MY ONLY UNCLE COMMITTED   SUICIDE. I WANT TO THANK SENATOR   SMITH FOR HIS BEING WILLING TO   TAKE TIME TO CO-CHAIR THIS   EFFORT. ON BEHALF OF THE DEFENSE   DEPARTMENT, I'M PARTICULARLY   GLAD THAT   SECRETARY McHUGH WILL BE   CO-CHAIRING THIS COMMITTEE. AS   SECRETARY, JOHN HAS LED THE   ARMY'S SUICIDE PREVENTION   EFFORTS, HELPING TO BRING   TOGETHER THE RELEVANT ACTORS AND   ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN HIS   DEPARTMENT IN A VIGOROUS AND   COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN.   HE IS IDEALLY SUITED TO SHARE   THE MILITARY'S ACCUMULATED   EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE ON   THESE ISSUES, AS WELL AS TO   LEARN FROM OTHER ALLIANCE   MEMBERS AND BRING THOSE LESSONS   BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF   DEFENSE. IT IS THE ONGOING DUTY   OF THIS DEPARTMENT TO DO   EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO CARE FOR   THOSE WHO PROTECT OUR NATION.   I'M CONFIDENT THAT THE INSIGHTS   AND EFFORTS OF THE ALLIANCE   WILL ENABLE US TO MORE   EFFECTIVELY FULFILL THIS   MISSION. THANK YOU.   [APPLAUSE]     >> I WANT TO THANK SECRETARY   SEBELIUS AND SECRETARY GATES FOR   LENDING THEIR SUPPORT TO THE   ACTION ALLIANCE AND FOR THE   EFFORTS TO CREATE THE CHANGE   IN POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT   WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN FEWER   ATTEMPTED AND COMPLETED   SUICIDES. AS WE ARE JOINED ON   THE DIAS HERE BY OUR OTHER   PANELISTS, WE'RE GOING TO   CONTINUE WITH THE PROGRAM. IT'S   MY GREAT PLEASURE NOW TO   INTRODUCE TO YOU THE PRESIDENT   AND CEO OF THE NATIONAL   ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS,   SENATOR GORDON SMITH. AS   MANY OF YOU KNOW, SENATOR   SMITH WAS THE CHAMPION OF THE   GARRETT LEE SMITH MEMORIAL   ACT. IT'S GENERALLY REGARDED AS   THE SINGLE MOST SIGNIFICANT   LEGISLATIVE ATTEMPT AND   ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THE FIELD OF   SUICIDE PREVENTION DURING THE   PAST DECADE. SINCE ITS   ENACTMENT, YOUTH AND COLLEGE   SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAMS HAVE   BEEN DEVELOPED AND   IMPLEMENTED NATIONWIDE. HERE   TO TELL US MORE ABOUT HIS WORK   AND COMMITMENT TO THE ACTION   ALLIANCE IS THE CO-CHAIR   SENATOR GORDON SMITH.   [APPLAUSE]     >> GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND   GENTLEMEN. I THANK YOU ALL FOR   TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY   PROFESSIONAL LIVES AND YOUR   FAMILIES TO WORK ON A CAUSE THAT   IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART FOR   REASONS THAT HAVE JUST BEEN   EXPLAINED TO YOU.   WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW, AND   I BELIEVE THE COUNTRY IS   PREPARED, TO MOVE TO A HIGHER   PLATEAU, TO PULL TOGETHER ALL   KINDS OF WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE   BY SO MANY AND DIFFERENT   ADMINISTRATIONS AND IN DIFFERENT   CONGRESSES AND IN THE PRIVATE   SECTOR TO PULL ALL OF THESE   THINGS TOGETHER IN THE ACTION   ALLIANCE.   AS I LOOK AROUND, I RECOGNIZE   SOME OF YOU FROM MY WORK ON   THESE ISSUES.   SOME OF YOU MAY BE HERE BECAUSE   YOU WERE TOLD TO BE HERE.   SOME OF YOU MAY BE HERE BECAUSE   YOU ARE A SURVIVOR, TOO, LIKE I   AM.   SOME OF YOU MAY BE HERE OUT OF   GENUINE PASSION.   BUT WHATEVER YOUR REASON FOR   BEING HERE, I THANK YOU.   JUST IMAGINE IF WE COULD END   SUICIDE IN THIS COUNTRY.   WE WOULD SAVE 34,000 LIVES A   YEAR.   BUT LET'S SAY THAT WE CAN'T.   LET'S SAY THAT WE COULD SAVE BUT   ONE. WE WOULD BE IN THE SHOES OF   LEAVING THE 99 TO SAVE THE ONE.   I HAVE SAID ON MANY OCCASIONS   LIKE THIS THAT THOSE WHO DO THIS   WORK, WORK ON THE SIDE OF   ANGELS.   AND SO I HOPE YOUR COMING HERE   TO THIS EVENT, YOU WILL TAKE   RENEWED ENERGY TO BE ANXIOUSLY   ENGAGED IN THIS GOOD CAUSE, THIS   CAUSE OF LIFE AND DEATH.   AND I WILL PAY TRIBUTE TO THE   OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, AS A   REPUBLICAN, FOR NOT ALLOWING   THIS ISSUE TO FALL THROUGH THE   CRACKS FROM ONE ADMINISTRATION   TO THE OTHER.   THE FACT THAT SECRETARY   SEBELIUS, THE FACT THAT   SECRETARY GATES   WERE HERE THIS MORNING I THINK   IS EVIDENT TESTIMONY THAT THIS   ADMINISTRATION AND THIS FEDERAL   GOVERNMENT REMAIN COMMITTED TO   THIS GOOD CAUSE.   IT WAS ALMOST 7 YEARS AGO TO   THIS DAY THAT MY WIFE AND I   RECEIVED NEWS THAT OUR SON HAD   TAKEN HIS LIFE.   THERE IS NO WAY TO DESCRIBE THE   LOSS OF ANY CHILD.   IT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING THING   A PARENT CAN GO THROUGH IN   THIS LIFE...FOR ANY REASON.   BUT WHEN THE REASON IS SUICIDE,   THE RECRIMINATION THAT YOU FEEL   ABOUT YOURSELF, THE SUFFERING   THAT YOU GO THROUGH, IS   SUFFERING   THAT IF WE COULD ALLEVIATE IT   FOR ALL SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE,   OUR TIME IS BETTER SPENT IN THIS   THAN ALMOST ANYTHING THAT WE   COULD DO.   SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE   HERE. THERE ARE IN THIS ACTION   ALLIANCE--THERE ARE MEMBERS THAT   COMPRISE US OF SURVIVORS, OF   ADVOCATES, SERVICEMEMBERS,   EMPLOYERS, RESEARCHERS, TRIBAL   MEMBERS, PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND   HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.   I THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TIME   THAT YOU ARE TAKING.   AND WHATEVER YOUR REASON FOR   BEING HERE, WHETHER IT'S LIKE MY   OWN TO FIND NEW MEANING IN THE   LIFE THAT MY SON LED, LET'S GET   TO WORK, LET'S ROLL UP OUR   SLEEVES, LET'S PULL TOGETHER THE   VERY BEST OF IDEAS, AND LET'S GO   TO A HIGHER PLATEAU WHERE WE ARE   ACTIVELY AND ANXIOUSLY ENGAGED   IN SAVING HUMAN LIFE.   MIND YOU, SOME OF THE MOST   TALENTED PEOPLE IN HISTORY, IN   THE ARTS, IN POLITICS, IN   EXPLORATION, AND DISCOVERY HAVE   SUFFERED MENTAL CHALLENGES IN   ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.   THE NAMES OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN,   WINSTON CHURCHILL, THE GREAT   COMPOSER SEBELIUS.   I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS RELATED   TO THE SECRETARY OR NOT.   MERIWETHER LEWIS, WHO WENT TO   MY STATE OF OREGON.   ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS IN ONE   WAY OR ANOTHER STRUGGLED WITH A   BLACK DOG.   AND THERE ARE WAYS TO FEND OFF   THAT BLACK DOG, AS CHURCHILL   CALLED IT. WE HAVE THE ABILITY.   WE HAVE THE TOOLS.   WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO RESTORE   HOPE AND HEALTH AND HEALING TO   THOSE WHO ARE CHALLENGED LIKE MY   SON WAS AND LIKE THESE   OTHER GREAT HISTORICAL FIGURES   WERE. NOW, I'M THE PRIVATE   SECTOR CHAIR.   THERE IS LIFE AFTER POLITICS.   >> [LAUGHTER]   >> THIS CAUSE, FOR ME, THOUGH,   DOES NOT END WITH AN ELECTION OR   A CONGRESS.   THIS CAUSE IS A LIFELONG CAUSE   BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT LIFE.   AND I'M PRIVILEGED TO BE JOINED   BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY,   JOHN McHUGH.   JOHN AND I SERVED--HE ON THE   HOUSE AND I ON THE SENATE   PARLIAMENT, NATO PARLIAMENTARY.   WE SPENT A FEW PLANE RIDES   TOGETHER, AND HOTELS, TRYING TO   ESTABLISH PEACE AND SAVE LIVES   THROUGH ENGAGEMENT.   AND THERE'S NO MYSTERY, AS   SECRETARY GATES SAID, THAT IN   THE U.S. MILITARY THIS IS A   PARTICULAR CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW.   AND SO TO HAVE JOHN PARTICIPATE   IN THIS WITH ME IS A HIGH   PRIVILEGE FOR ME PERSONALLY   BECAUSE I THOUGHT SO WELL OF HIM   IN HIS DECENCY AND GOODNESS AS   A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.   AND I WOULD POINT OUT THAT--NOT   THE IRONY, BUT THE IMPORTANCE   THAT SECRETARY GATES AND JOHN   McHUGH, THEY REGISTER AS   REPUBLICANS IN A DEMOCRATIC   ADMINISTRATION.   THAT IS MORE THAN SYMBOLIC.   IT'S HUGELY IMPORTANT ON THIS   ISSUE, BECAUSE   SO MANY THINGS DIVIDE THIS TOWN,   SO MANY THINGS END IN GRIDLOCK,   BUT THIS ONE MUST NOT, BECAUSE   THIS ONE DOESN'T REGISTER   REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.   THIS REGISTERS HUMAN.   SO MY CO-CHAIR, MY COLLEAGUE,   MY FRIEND, THE SECRETARY OF THE   ARMY, JOHN McHUGH.   [APPLAUSE]     >> AS A FELLOW RECOVERING   POLITICIAN, I CAN'T EXPRESS MY   GRATITUDE SUFFICIENTLY TO THE   GOOD SENATOR, MY DEAR FRIEND,   FOR HIS KIND AND GRACIOUS   COMMENTS. AND WHILE THE CALLING   THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER HERE   TODAY TRANSCENDS, AS HE SO   ELOQUENTLY STATED, THE NORMAL   THINGS THAT PERHAPS DIVIDE   PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN, THE   FRIENDSHIP AND THE ADMIRATION IN   WHICH I HELD HIM WAS ONE OF THE   PRIMARY MOTIVATIONS OF THE   GRACIOUS OFFER AND THE GREAT   HONOR THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED TO ME   TO SERVE AS THIS CO-CHAIR. AND   I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T, OF   COURSE, THANK SECRETARIES   SEBELIUS AND GATES FOR THEIR   GREAT LEADERSHIP AND HAVING THE   UNDERSTANDING, AS YOU HEARD IN   THEIR PASSIONATE COMMENTS ABOUT   THE IMPORTANCE AND AT THE SAME   TIME THE DIFFICULTY OF THE   CHALLENGE OF SUICIDE AND SUICIDE   PREVENTION.   SO, GORDON, I'M THRILLED AND   HONORED TO BE AT YOUR SIDE   AGAIN. I THINK THERE'S AN   IMPORTANT SYMBOLISM HERE TODAY.   AS YOU OBVIOUSLY KNOW, THIS IS   WORLDWIDE SUICIDE PREVENTION   DAY.   AND THIS ANNOUNCEMENT COINCIDING   WITH THAT COMMEMORATIVE DAY I   THINK SPEAKS VERY IMPORTANTLY TO   THE GLOBAL NATURE OF THIS   PROBLEM. SENATOR SMITH I THINK   UNDERSCORED VERY CLEARLY, AND AS   PAM AND OTHERS HAVE NOTED, THIS   IS A CHALLENGE THAT DOESN'T   DISCRIMINATE.   IT'S AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY   TRAGEDY. IT DOESN'T LOOK AT YOUR   BANK ACCOUNT.   IT DOESN'T LOOK AT YOUR RACE,   YOUR CREED, WHERE YOU LIVE, WHAT   YOU THINK.   IT TOUCHES VIRTUALLY EVERY   FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY.   AND THAT'S CERTAINLY TRUE FOR US   IN THE ARMY.   BEFORE THIS DAY IS THROUGH, WE   KNOW STATISTICALLY 5 NEW   SOLDIERS WILL TRY TO KILL   THEMSELVES.   AND THE GREAT TRAGEDY, WE KNOW   STATISTICALLY, BY TOMORROW AT   LEAST ONE OF THOSE SOLDIERS WILL   SUCCEED.   THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE FOR US.   IT REALLY VIOLATES OUR BASIC   WARRIOR ETHOS.   AND THAT ETHOS IS AS IMPORTANT   AS IT IS DIRECT AND SIMPLE.   WE NEVER LEAVE A FALLEN COMRADE   BEHIND, AND WE NEVER QUIT.   FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS, WE'VE SEEN   THE SUICIDE RATES, FRANKLY,   EXPLODE.   239 JUST LAST YEAR.   AND AS SECRETARY SEBELIUS NOTED,   IN THE MONTH OF JULY, THE   LARGEST NUMBER EVER.   AND IT REALLY DOES CALL INTO   QUESTION THAT ETHOS OF NOT   LEAVING A FALLEN WARRIOR BEHIND.   NOW, WE THINK WE KNOW SOME OF   THE ANSWERS.   9 YEARS OF WAR, NEARLY, AS   SECRETARY GATES NOTED.   WE HAVE A STRAINED FORCE.   IT'S GRAPPLING WITH ALL OF THE   CHALLENGES OF DEPLOYMENT AFTER   DEPLOYMENT AND ALL OF THE   STRESSES THAT THAT BRINGS WITH   IT.   BUT WE ARE LOSING THIS BATTLE IN   STATISTICAL WAYS AND IN VERY   IMPORTANT, DIRECT COMMENT ON   LEAVING THOSE FALLEN WARRIORS   BEHIND.   THAT'S WHY I'M SO HONORED, YES,   BUT MORE THAN THAT, GRATEFUL TO   BE PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO   TAKE PART IN THIS NATIONAL   SUICIDE PREVENTION ALLIANCE, AND   TO CO-CHAIR, AS I SAID, ALONG   WITH GORDON SMITH, THIS   EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. IN THE   ARMY, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING THIS   ISSUE HARD. WE'VE TRIED TO TAKE   A MULTI-LEVEL AND VERY HOLISTIC   APPROACH TO SUCH   THINGS AS HEALTH, PROMOTION,   RISK REDUCTION, ALL LEADING TO   SUICIDE PREVENTION.   IT RECOGNIZES THE CHALLENGES   THAT OUR SOLDIERS AND THEIR   FAMILIES FACE.   MANY OF THEM ARE THE SHARED   CHALLENGES THAT EVERY CITIZEN   AND EVERY COMMUNITY IN THIS   COUNTRY, INDEED, IN EVERY CORNER   OF THIS WORLD FACES--THINGS OF   DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE,   FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS,   RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGES. BUT   SOME OF THOSE ARE UNIQUE TO THE   MILITARY, ARE UNIQUE TO THE   LAST DECADE--THE REPEATED   DEPLOYMENTS, AS SECRETARY GATES   SO CORRECTLY NOTED;   THE STRESSES AND THE STRAINS OF   TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND   WOUNDS AND POST-TRAUMATIC   STRESS. BUT IT'S EXACERBATED BY   ANOTHER FACTOR AS WELL.   GENERAL PETE CHIARELLI, THE VICE   CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMY, A   DOGGED CHAMPION OF WORKING ON   THESE ISSUES, WAS KIND ENOUGH TO   ACCEPT THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE   ARMY, GENERAL GEORGE CASEY,   AND MY REQUEST TO LEAD UP A TASK   FORCE TO GO OUT AND TO PULSE   THE FORCE, AND   HE TOOK THAT TASK FORCE AND HE   VISITED 6 ARMY INSTALLATIONS IN   AN EFFORT TO TRY TO BETTER   UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN   THE MINDS AND THE SOULS OF THOSE   SOLDIERS AND WHAT LED THEM TO   THOSE ACTIONS.   AND ONE OF THE THINGS HIS VERY   SOUL-BARING REPORT THAT WAS   RELEASED JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO   REVEALED IS THAT IN THE ARMY,   THERE IS A TENDENCY TO HIGH-RISK   BEHAVIOR,   AND MANY OF THOSE BEHAVIORS ARE   DIRECTLY RELATED TO SUICIDES IN   SOME WAY OR ANOTHER.   AND HE WROTE, "THE CHALLENGES   OF SERVING IN TODAY'S ARMY HAVE   TRIED OUR LEADERS, TESTED OUR   SOLDIERS, AND EXHAUSTED OUR   FAMILIES." AND WE DO KNOW THIS.   THERE MAY NOT BE EASY ANSWERS,   BUT AS GORDON SAID, THERE ARE   ANSWERS.   IF WE BECOME MORE DISCIPLINED,   DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELING,   REFERRALS, WE WORK WITH OUR   LEADERS, AGAIN, AS THE SECRETARY   SAID, TO TEACH OUR SOLDIERS THAT   IT'S OK TO ASK FOR HELP. BUT   STATISTICALLY WE KNOW WE HAVE A   LONG, LONG PATH TO TRAVEL.   AS AN AUNT OF A 24-YEAR-OLD   SOLDIER WROTE IN TRIBUTE   FOLLOWING HIS SUICIDE, "HIS   WOUNDS COULD NOT BE BANDAGED,   HIS SCARS TOO DEEP TO SEE. A   TRAUMA THAT NO MEDIC COULD   OPERATE ON, AND NOT EVEN HE   COULD FULLY COMPREHEND THE   DEPTHS OF HIS INTERNAL   INJURIES." THAT IS WHAT   MOTIVATES US IN THE ARMY. BUT AS   PROUD AS WE ARE OF WHAT WE CAN   ACCOMPLISH ON THIS ONE, WE   NEITHER CAN NOR WISH TO GO IT   ALONE. THIS IS SUCH AN EXCITING   OPPORTUNITY AND AN HONOR FOR US   TO PARTNER WITH SOME OF THE MOST   LUSTRATIVE ORGANIZATIONS IN   MIND, SOME OF THE MOST LEADING   SCHOLARS AND GROUPS INVOLVED IN   THIS CRITICAL CHALLENGE.   SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK   AHEAD.   I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING AND   TO TAKING, AS THE SECRETARY   SAID, THOSE LESSONS BACK TO THE   DEPARTMENT, AND WHATEVER WAY WE   CAN IN THE ARMY SHARE THE VERY   REAL, VERY STARK EXPERIENCES   WE'VE HAD. SO THANK YOU, AND   IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE.   [APPLAUSE]     >> THANK YOU, SECRETARY McHUGH   AND SENATOR SMITH.   WE'RE SO PLEASED TO HAVE YOUR   LEADERSHIP TO HELP US GUIDE THE   ALLIANCE ALONG.   I THINK IT'S CLEAR BASED ON BOTH   OF THE REMARKS OF BOTH OF THESE   FINE GENTLEMEN THAT THE WORDS   "ACTION" AND "PASSION" ARE GONNA   DRIVE THIS ALLIANCE.   THE NEXT SPEAKER IS READY FOR   ACTION, TOO.   SHE IS MY COLLEAGUE AT THE   DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN   SERVICES, DR. YVETTE ROUBIDEAUX.   SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE   INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE, AND SHE   IS A TRUE LEADER OF CHANGE. DR.   ROUBIDEAUX AND I   HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER TO   ADDRESS SUICIDE PREVENTION AND   MANY OTHER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH   ISSUES IN INDIAN COUNTRY,   AND THE EXPERIENCE IS BENEFITING   US AT SAMHSA AS WELL AS IN OUR   WORK TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO BEST   REACH OUT IN EFFECTIVE WAYS IN   A VARIETY OF CULTURES.   PLEASE WELCOME MY COLLEAGUE AND   PARTNER IN PREVENTION, DR.   YVETTE ROUBIDEAUX.   [APPLAUSE]     >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.   I'M HONORED TO BE A PART OF THE   WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY   EVENTS AND THE LAUNCH OF THE   NATIONAL ACTION ALLIANCE FOR   SUICIDE PREVENTION.   FIRST I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE   THE FAMILIES WHO ARE SURVIVORS   OF SUICIDE   AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE   IMPORTANCE OF REMEMBERING EACH   SUICIDE AS A LOSS ENDURED BY   FAMILIES AND BY THE ENTIRE   COMMUNITY.   SUICIDE IS CLEARLY ONE OF THE   MOST TRAGIC EVENTS THAT A FAMILY   CAN ENDURE, AND THE GRIEF CAUSED   BY SUICIDE CANNOT BE   UNDERESTIMATED, NOR CAN   IT BE IGNORED. WE MUST CONTINUE   TO ENSURE THAT WE TAKE THE   NECESSARY STEPS TO PREVENT   SUICIDE. WHILE MANY AMERICAN   INDIAN AND ALASKAN NATIVE   COMMUNITIES ARE AFFECTED BY HIGH   RATES OF SUICIDE, WHEN I MEET   WITH TRIBES,   SUICIDE IS ONE OF THEIR TOP   PRIORITIES AND GREATEST   CONCERNS.   THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED INDIAN   HEALTH SERVICE TRENDS IN   INDIAN HEALTH FROM 2002 TO 2003   REPORTS THAT FOR AMERICAN INDIAN   AND ALASKAN NATIVES RESIDING IN   INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE AREAS, THE   SUICIDE RATE IS 1.7 TIMES THAT   OF THE U.S. ALL RACES RATE.   SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING   CAUSE OF DEATH FOR INDIAN YOUTH   AGES 15 TO 24 AND IS 3.5 TIMES   HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL   AVERAGE. SUICIDE IS THE SIXTH   LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH OVERALL   FOR MALES AND RANKS AHEAD OF   HOMICIDE, AND AMERICAN INDIAN   ALASKAN NATIVE YOUNG PEOPLE AGED   15 TO 34   MAKE UP 64% OF ALL SUICIDES IN   INDIAN COUNTRY.   WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THE   UNDERLYING SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL,   AND CULTURAL ISSUES RELATED TO   SUICIDE INCLUDE POVERTY, LACK OF   ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, LIMITED   EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES,   COMMUNITY BREAKDOWN, FAMILIAL   DISRUPTION, AND STIGMA.   GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED   RESERVATIONS MAY AMPLIFY THESE   RISKS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE   SENSE OF HOPELESSNESS AMONG   YOUNG PEOPLE.   IN THE CASE OF YOUNG   AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKAN   NATIVE PEOPLE,   THEY FACE ON AVERAGE A GREATER   NUMBER OF RISK FACTORS FOR   SUICIDE,   AND THE RISK FACTORS ARE OFTEN   MORE SEVERE IN NATURE.   RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT FACTORS   THAT PROTECT NATIVE YOUTH AND   YOUNG ADULTS AGAINST SUICIDAL   BEHAVIOR ARE THEIR SENSE OF   BELONGING TO CULTURE, STRONG   TRIBAL TRADITIONAL ORIENTATION,   AND CULTURAL CONTINUITY.   THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE   SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF   LOCALLY DRIVEN INITIATIVES AIMED   AT REDUCING THE IMPACT OF RISK   FACTORS WHILE ENHANCING THOSE   FACTORS THAT ARE KNOWN TO   PROTECT AGAINST SUICIDE.   THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE HAS A   NUMBER OF ONGOING INITIATIVES   TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF   SUICIDE IN INDIAN COMMUNITIES.   CURRENTLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH   TRIBES, THE INDIAN HEALTH   SERVICE IS DEVELOPING STRATEGIC   PLANS TO ADDRESS SUICIDE AND   BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WHICH WILL   FOSTER COLLABORATION AMONG   TRIBES, TRIBAL   ORGANIZATIONS, URBAN INDIAN   ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER KEY   COMMUNITY RESOURCES.   THE IHS NATIONAL TRIBAL   ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON BEHAVIORAL   HEALTH, MADE UP OF TRIBAL   LEADERS FROM EACH OF THE 12 IHS   AREAS, IS CURRENTLY SEEKING   INPUT FROM TRIBAL LEADERS AND   PROGRAMS ON OUR SUICIDE   PREVENTION STRATEGIC PLAN.   THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE AND   SAMHSA ARE WORKING CLOSELY   TOGETHER TO FORMULATE LONG-TERM   STRATEGIC APPROACHES TO MORE   EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS SUICIDE AND   MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN INDIAN   COUNTRY IN A COLLABORATIVE   MANNER.   THANK YOU TO PAM HYDE, THE   SAMHSA ADMINISTRATOR, FOR BEING   SUCH A GREAT COLLEAGUE AND SUCH   A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR THIS CAUSE.   THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF   YOUR EFFORTS.   THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE   METHAMPHETAMINE AND SUICIDE   PREVENTION INITIATIVE SUPPORTS   THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODEL   PRACTICES FOR METHAMPHETAMINE   AND SUICIDE REDUCTION PROGRAMS   IN OVER 100 PILOT PROGRAMS   ACROSS INDIAN COUNTRY.   AND WE ARE ALSO PARTNERING WITH   THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR,   BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, BUREAU   OF INDIAN EDUCATION, TO   INCLUDE THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF   THE TRIBE AND THE COMMUNITY IN   THESE PREVENTION EFFORTS.   THOSE OF US WHO HAVE WORKED FOR   YEARS IN THE INDIAN HEALTH   SYSTEM UNDERSTAND THAT   ADDRESSING SUICIDE EFFECTIVELY   REQUIRES THE INVOLVEMENT AND   COLLABORATION OF THE FAMILY,   COMMUNITY,   SCHOOLS, AND THE HEALTH CARE   SYSTEM. REDUCING SUICIDE IN   INDIAN COUNTRY IS A PRIORITY FOR   ALL OF US.   WE ARE WORKING TO BRING ALL   AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO BEAR ON   THE MENTAL AND   BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISPARITIES   THAT EXIST IN AMERICAN INDIAN   AND ALASKAN NATIVE COMMUNITIES.   WE ALL HAVE A CRITICAL ROLE TO   PLAY IN THE PREVENTION OF   SUICIDE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.   IT'S WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I   INTRODUCE OUR NEXT SPEAKER,   COLORADAS MANGAS, A MEMBER OF   THE CHIRICAHUA APACHE TRIBE WHO   LIVES ON THE MESCALERO APACHE   RESERVATION IN NEW MEXICO.   EARLIER THIS YEAR, HE TESTIFIED   BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON   INDIAN AFFAIRS ABOUT THE HUGE   NEED IN HIS COMMUNITY FOR MORE   SUICIDE PREVENTION EFFORTS.   COLORADAS HAS LOST 5 FRIENDS   TO SUICIDE. HE'S NOW A STAUNCH   ADVOCATE FOR STOPPING SUICIDE   EPIDEMIC AMONG YOUNG AMERICAN   INDIANS AND ALASKAN NATIVES.   PLEASE WELCOME COLORADAS MANGAS.   [APPLAUSE]     >> [SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE]     HOW ARE YOU?   MY NAME IS COLORADAS MANGAS.   MY MOTHER IS CRI-CRI MANGAS,   AND MY FATHER IS CARL MANGAS.   I HAVE TWO SISTERS WHO ARE   DANIELLE AND KIANA MANGAS.   I HAVE ONE BROTHER WHO IS TYSON   BRITTON.   I COME TO YOU FROM THE MESCALERO   APACHE PEOPLE, THE CHIRICAHUA   PEOPLE, AND THE LIPAN PEOPLE,   WHO ALL SHARE ONE RESERVATION IN   MESCALERO, NEW MEXICO. I DO A   LOT FOR MY PEOPLE IN MESCALERO.   I JOIN IN TRIBAL COMMUNITY   ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS TRADITIONAL   DOINGS AND ALSO GOING TO ALL   MESCALEROS AND ALL KINDS OF   OTHER TRADITIONAL GAMINGS   THAT WE DO.   I NOW DO A LOT OF THINGS FOR THE   TRADITIONAL PEOPLE IN THE   NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH THAT WE   HAVE IN RUIDOSO HIGH SCHOOL.   I WORK WITH THE COUNSELORS AT   OUR SCHOOL TO PREVENT SUICIDE,   SOMETHING TO ME THAT IS VERY   IMPORTANT IN ALL NATIVE AMERICAN   COMMUNITIES.   I LOST 5 FRIENDS, AS SHE   SAID, IN THE YEAR OF OCTOBER   LAST YEAR TO SUICIDE.   IT WAS SOMETHING HARD NOT ONLY   FOR ME, BUT ALSO FOR ALL THE   ADULTS AND OTHER YOUTH AND   TRIBAL COUNCIL MEMBERS OF   MESCALERO. IT WAS HARD BECAUSE   IT WASN'T A YEAR SPAN WHEN WE   LOST THESE PEOPLE. IT WAS ALL   WITHIN ONE MONTH--TWO WEEKS   APART, ONE WEEK APART, MAYBE   3 DAYS AT THE MOST. LOSING   PEOPLE TO SUICIDE IS A VERY   IMPORTANT THING TO ME NOW. I TRY   TO PREVENT IT IN EVERY WAY   POSSIBLE, ENCOURAGING OUR YOUTH   THAT THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE   FUTURE FOR THEM EVEN THOUGH   THEY MAY THINK THERE ISN'T.   HOPELESSNESS IS SOMETHING THAT   WE NEED TO ADDRESS ON THE   RESERVATION. MANY OF OUR   YOUTH BELIEVE THAT THERE'S   NOTHING FOR THEM IN THE FUTURE,   BELIEVE THAT THEIR COMMUNITY   DOESN'T INVOLVE THEM IN ANYTHING   THEY DO ANYMORE.   SO THEY CUT THEMSELVES OFF FROM   EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE   RESERVATION, WHICH LEADS TO   SUICIDE.   IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT   HOPELESSNESS IS NOW ADDRESSED   BECAUSE IT'S WHAT LEADS SOME OF   OUR PEOPLE TO DO SUICIDE.   IT'S NOT JUST THE YOUTH, MY AGE   THAT COMMIT SUICIDE.   SOMETIMES IT'S AN ADULT.   SOMETIMES THEY'RE OLDER THAN   ADULTS.   IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SPEAK ABOUT   THINGS LIKE THIS BECAUSE AS A   NATIVE AMERICAN, SUICIDE AND   DEATH ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE   SPEAK ABOUT.   IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEVER   SPEAK ABOUT BECAUSE WE RESPECT   OUR DEAD AND WE HONOR THEM IN   EVERY WAY POSSIBLE.   I'M HERE TODAY TO MAKE A   DIFFERENCE NOT ONLY FOR MY   PEOPLE OF   THE MESCALERO, CHIRICAHUA, AND   LIPAN APACHE TRIBES, BUT ALL   NATIVE AMERICANS ACROSS THE   COUNTRY--THE BLACKFEET, THE   SEMINOLE, THE CHIPPEWA, THE   CREE. ALL OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE   SUICIDES IN THEIR PARTS OF THEIR   RESERVATION, MAYBE IN THEIR   TOWNS, THEIR CITIES.   AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS   TO BE ADDRESSED NOT ONLY FOR   US NATIVE AMERICANS, BUT ALSO   ALASKAN INDIANS AND SOMETIMES   EVEN THE PEOPLE THAT SPEAK   TO THE INDIANS.   MY FRIENDS, I HAVE MANY IN   RUIDOSO HIGH SCHOOL.   THEY'RE WHITES, THEY'RE LATINOS,   THEY'RE BLACKS.   I ADDRESS THESE ISSUES WITH THEM   ALSO BECAUSE THEY'RE MY   FRIENDS.   I DON'T LIMIT MYSELF JUST TO   NATIVE AMERICANS.   I HELP EVERYBODY THAT I CAN   BECAUSE IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT   ISSUE, AND I KNOW THE EFFECTS   WHENEVER SOMEBODY DOES TAKE   THEIR LIFE, IT DOESN'T AFFECT   JUST MAYBE ONE OR TWO FRIENDS.   IT AFFECTS EVERYBODY. IT AFFECTS   THAT PERSON'S FRIEND, THAT   PERSON'S FAMILY, AND SO ON AND   SO FORTH, WHICH LEADS MORE TO   DO SUICIDE. SO I'M HERE TODAY   JUST TO TELL YOU WHAT I DO FOR   MY FRIENDS AT THE SCHOOLS, ALSO   FOR MY FAMILY MEMBERS, WHICH I   HAVE A LOT ON THE   RESERVATION.   AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK   EVERYBODY THAT'S TAKEN A PART IN   THIS BECAUSE SUICIDE IS   SOMETHING THAT REALLY NEEDS TO   BE ADDRESSED IN NATIVE   AMERICAN COMMUNITIES   BECAUSE IT'S HARD NOT JUST FOR   THAT TEENAGER AND THEIR   FAMILIES, BUT FOR ALL THE   COMMUNITY MEMBERS.   IT'S A BIG PART OF   EVERYBODY'S LIVES, AS I KNOW.   SOMETIMES   PARENTS LOSE ALL OF THEIR   CHILDREN TO SUICIDE.   I KNOW A FEW OF THESE PEOPLE   THAT LOST ALL OF THEIR PARENTS,   MAYBE LOST THEIR SON OR THEIR   DAUGHTER TO SUICIDE.   SOME WAS AN ONLY CHILD THAT TOOK   THEIR LIVES, AND   IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR THE   PARENTS BECAUSE THEY PROBABLY   WEREN'T ABLE TO HAVE CHILDREN   AFTER THAT.   IT WAS HARD FOR THEM BECAUSE   THEY HAD TO LOOK AT THEIR   CHILD'S ROOM AND TAKE EVERYTHING   OUT OF THERE.   IN THE NATIVE AMERICAN WAY,   WHENEVER YOU LOSE A FAMILY   MEMBER,   YOU TAKE ALL OF THEIR BELONGINGS   OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS AND   YOU EITHER BURN IT OR YOU TAKE   IT TO THE LAND AND LEAVE IT OUT   THERE. AND I KNOW IT'S HARD FOR   A MOTHER OR FATHER TO TAKE   THEIR SON'S OR THEIR DAUGHTER'S   STUFF, THEIR JEWELRY, THEIR   COMING OF   AGE CEREMONY THINGS, THEIR TOYS   THAT THEY USED TO PLAY WITH, ALL   OF THEIR CLOTHES, THEIR BEDS,   THEIR DRESSERS, EVERYTHING.   I KNOW IT'S HARD TO TAKE THESE   OUT OF THE HOUSE AND TO GO INTO   THE WILDERNESS AND PUT THEM   OUT THERE FOR ANYBODY ELSE.   THIS IS HARD BECAUSE SOMETIMES,   LIKE I SAID, THIS CHILD IS AN   ONLY CHILD,   AND THE PARENTS THINK OF IT AS A   GREAT DEAL.   MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN MY   RESERVATION ASKED ME TO COME   HERE TO   DO THIS FOR THEM, TO SPEAK FOR   THEM, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN   BREAKING THE SILENCE ON   RESERVATIONS.   I BELIEVE IN HELPING ALL   NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE OUT   THERE, NOT JUST MYSELF.   I DON'T DO THIS FOR THE FAME OR   FOR THE GLORY.   I DO IT TO HELP EVERYBODY.   I DO IT TO HELP NOT ONLY MY   FRIENDS, BUT ALSO THEIR FAMILY   MEMBERS.   I DO IT TO HELP OUR ELDERS, TO   HELP OUR TRIBAL COUNCIL MEMBERS   TO SEE THAT SUICIDE IS SOMETHING   THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.   SO I THINK EVERYBODY HERE AND   I THANK EVERYBODY THAT'S TAKEN A   PART IN PREVENTING SUICIDE IN   NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES,   ALASKAN NATIVES AND EVERYBODY   ELSE.   [SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE]   [APPLAUSE]     >> WHEN I STARTED THIS MORNING,   I TALKED ABOUT THE PERSONAL   NATURE OF SUICIDE AND ITS IMPACT   ON FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND   COMMUNITY, AND   COLORADAS HAS CERTAINLY SHARED   HIS STORY WITH US TODAY TO HELP   US UNDERSTAND THAT, AND THOSE   WHO FACE SIMILAR SITUATIONS.   THANK YOU, COLORADAS.   WE REALLY APPRECIATE HIS   PARTICIPATION IN THIS ACTION   ALLIANCE AND FOR MAKING THE TIME   TO BE HERE.   OUR NEXT SPEAKER ALSO HAS A   STORY TO SHARE.   MR. EDUARDO VEGA IS THE CHIEF   OF THE DIVISION OF EMPOWERMENT   AND ADVOCACY FOR LOS   ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF   MENTAL HEALTH. I THINK WE SHOULD   ALL HAVE THAT TITLE--CHIEF OF   EMPOWERMENT AND ADVOCACY. I LIKE   THAT.   >> [LAUGHTER]   >> MR. VEGA IS KNOWN   NATIONALLY FOR HIS WORK AS A   MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE, SOCIAL   SERVICES WORKER, AND COUNSELOR,   AND HE, TOO, WILL BE SERVING ON   THE ACTION ALLIANCE EXECUTIVE   COMMITTEE. PLEASE WELCOME MR.   VEGA TO THE PODIUM. THANK YOU.   [APPLAUSE]     >> THANK YOU   VERY MUCH. I'M REALLY HONORED TO   BE HERE AND IN PARTICULAR TO BE   IN THE PRESENCE OF PEOPLE WHO   ARE GIVING VOICE TO SOMETHING   WHICH HASN'T BEEN GIVEN VOICE   TO. THEY'RE SPEAKING FROM THEIR   PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND DRIVING   FORTH THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE   WITH REAL PASSION.   I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK A LITTLE   BIT BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AS A   SURVIVOR OF MY OWN SUICIDE   ATTEMPT BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT   TO RECOGNIZE, TO SPEAK ABOUT   THESE THINGS EVEN THOUGH THEY   ARE DIFFICULT.   WHAT I REMEMBER, THOUGH IT'S   BEEN MANY YEARS, IS THE UTTER   HOPELESSNESS AND DESPAIR OF   BEING IN THIS PLACE WHERE YOU   WANT TO KILL YOURSELF.   HELPLESSNESS, A HATRED OF   YOURSELF, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES   THAT HAVE PUT YOU THERE IN THIS   PLACE WHERE YOU FEEL NOT ONLY   HOPELESS, BUT WORTHLESS.   BEYOND THAT, THERE IS THE   FEELING OF BEING ALONE, THE   FEELING THAT NOT ONLY ARE YOU   NOT VALUABLE TO OTHERS, BUT YOU   ARE NOT CONNECTED TO OTHERS.   YOU ARE IN A PLACE THAT YOU ARE   UNREACHABLE AND UNWORTHY OF   HELP. WHAT MADE A DIFFERENCE TO   ME AFTER MY LAST SUICIDE ATTEMPT   WAS FEELING THAT I COULD MAKE A   DIFFERENCE.   I CAME TO REALIZE THAT EVEN IN   A SMALL WAY I COULD CONTRIBUTE   TO THE LIVES OF OTHERS.   I COULD CONTRIBUTE TO HELPING   SOCIETY BECOME A LITTLE BETTER,   WARMER, HEALTHIER, HAPPIER PLACE   FOR OTHERS.   KNOWING THAT I COULD CONTRIBUTE   THIS IS THE THING THAT MADE A   DIFFERENCE   AND THE THING THAT I BELIEVE   MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR EVERYBODY   WHEN THEY'RE AT A POINT OF   COMPLETE DESPAIR.   PEOPLE NEED HOPE.   WE HAVE TO HOLD OUT HOPE FOR   THEM, BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE IN   THE PLACE OF WANTING TO DIE, YOU   DON'T HAVE THAT HOPE FOR   YOURSELF. THROUGH THIS ACTION   ALLIANCE, THROUGH NOT ONLY GREAT   HANDS AND GREAT FOOTWORK, BUT   THROUGH THE CONTRIBUTION OF   GREAT HEARTS LIKE THAT OF   SENATOR SMITH AND OUR ADVOCATES,   AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE   LIVED THROUGH THE DEATH AND LOSS   OF THEIR LOVED ONES AND HAVE   BROUGHT THAT PASSION INTO THE   ROOM, THROUGH THIS WE CAN HOLD   OUT HOPE FOR OTHERS,   HOLD OUT HOPE FOR IT WHEN THEY   DON'T HAVE IT FOR THEMSELVES.   WE CAN LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY   ARE NOT ALONE,   BECAUSE WHAT I'VE COME TO LEARN   ON THIS JOURNEY IS THAT NO ONE   IS ALONE,   NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE FEEL ALONE   AT TIMES.   WHAT I BELIEVE IS THAT EVERYONE   HAS SOMETHING TO GIVE.   WE NEED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT   THEY HAVE THAT THING TO GIVE,   THAT NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE AT   THAT MOMENT, THEY HAVE A   UNIQUE GIFT THEY CAN BRING TO   THE WORLD   BY HOLDING OUT THE LIGHT OF HOPE   FOR OTHERS, BY LETTING THEM   KNOW WE NEED THEM.   WE NEED OUR SOLDIERS.   WE NEED OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, OUR   BROTHERS AND SISTERS.   WE NEED TO PRESERVE THE GREATEST   ASSET, THE GREATEST RESOURCE   OF OUR COUNTRY, WHICH ARE OUR   BROTHERS AND SISTERS, OUR   CHILDREN AND PARENTS.   I KNOW THAT WE CAN DO THIS   TOGETHER IF WE CAN COMBAT THE   STIGMA, IF WE CAN CHALLENGE THE   SILENCE, SPEAK OUT,   SHARE WITH EACH OTHER,   AND LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AND   BREAK THROUGH THE DECADES OF   STIGMA THAT HAVE STOPPED THIS   CONVERSATION, THIS ACTION FROM   GOING FORWARD.   THANK YOU VERY MUCH.   I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR SAMHSA AND   THE OTHERS FOR BRINGING FORWARD   THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE.   [APPLAUSE]     >> FEW PEOPLE WILL EVER HAVE THE   OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS OR BE   PART OF HISTORY.   TODAY YOU HAVE SEEN HISTORY   UNFOLD, WITH THE HIGHEST LEVELS   OF OUR GOVERNMENT REINFORCING   THEIR DETERMINATION AND   DEDICATION TO REDUCING SUICIDE   IN AMERICA AS WELL AS THE NEWLY   CREATED ACTION ALLIANCE MOVING   THE COUNTRY'S FUTURE SUICIDE   PREVENTION EFFORTS INTO THE NEXT   GENERATION.   THIS IS TRULY ABOUT SAVING   LIVES.   IN THE TIME YOU HAVE SPENT IN   THIS ROOM FOR THIS PRESS   CONFERENCE THIS MORNING, WE HAVE   LOST ANOTHER 4 AMERICANS TO   SUICIDE,   AND TRAGICALLY, NEARLY A HUNDRED   OTHERS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE   THEIR LIFE. TODAY 750 COUNTRIES   AROUND THE WORLD WILL HOLD   OVER 100 EVENTS, AND   THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, WE   RECOGNIZE THE VAST WORK BEING   DONE BY RESEARCHERS, HEALTH CARE   PROFESSIONALS, POLICYMAKERS,   COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO   COLLECTIVELY MAKE UP THE   SUICIDE PREVENTION MOVEMENT.   WHILE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN   REDUCING THE SHAME AND   CONFUSION THAT UNFAIRLY   CHARACTERIZES THOSE LIVING WITH   MENTAL ILLNESSES, A LOT REMAINS   TO BE DONE WITH REGARD TO THIS   PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.   WHEN IT COMES TO PREVENTING   SUICIDE AND SUICIDE ITSELF, IT   RIPS DEEP INTO THE HEARTS OF   PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES OF EVERY   DEMOGRAPHIC AND LEAVES BEHIND   OPEN WOUNDS THAT FOR MANY NEVER   HEAL.   IT TESTS THE LIMITS OF EVERY   HUMAN EMOTION AND LEAVES THOSE   LEFT BEHIND QUESTIONING EVERY   THOUGHT, EVERY COMMENT, AND   EVERY MISSED OPPORTUNITY THAT   SURVIVORS BELIEVE MIGHT HAVE   PREVENTED THE TRAGIC LOSS.   THIS IS ONE PROBLEM THAT TAKES   ALL OF US TO ADDRESS IF WE WANT   TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THOSE THAT   WE LOVE.   THIS CONCLUDES THIS PRESS   CONFERENCE.   I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR   TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME   HERE AND HELP US OBSERVE WORLD   SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY AND THE   LAUNCH OF THE NATIONAL ACTION   ALLIANCE.   I'D LIKE TO THANK ADMINISTRATOR   HYDE, THE SECRETARIES,   THE SENATOR, ALL THOSE WHO HAVE   PARTICIPATED IN THIS EVENT THIS   MORNING. AT THIS TIME, WE INVITE   MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA TO THE WEST   BALLROOM FOR INTERVIEWS WITH   SOME OF OUR PANELISTS,   THE ACTION ALLIANCE MEMBERS TO   THE BREAK ROOM.   AND WE THANK EVERYONE FOR   ATTENDING AND ASK THAT YOU CLEAR   THE ROOM, AS IT WILL BE SET UP   TO BEGIN THE FORMAL ACTION   ALLIANCE MEETING THIS MORNING.   THANK YOU.   [APPLAUSE]