Lehigh Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Congresswoman Susan Wild helped reintroduce the Barriers To Suicide Act: bipartisan legislation to create grants for state and local governments to fund nets and barriers on bridges, which have been shown to reduce suicides.

“Our country is experiencing a mental health crisis, and it’s our responsibility to take every step possible to save lives,” said Rep. Susan Wild. “The Barriers To Suicide Act will create a grant program for state and local governments to install suicide deterrent measures, like nets and barriers on bridges. I’m committed to doing everything I can to prevent suicides – so I’m proud to have helped introduce this legislation as an original co-sponsor to save lives.”

About the Barriers To Suicide Act

The Barriers To Suicide Act would establish a competitive grant program for states and localities to apply for federal funding to install nets and barriers on bridges, with project funding made explicitly eligible under the National Highway Performance Program. This legislation would also authorize a federal study to identify further strategies to reduce jumping deaths.

According the Centers for Disease Control, over 48,000 Americans died by suicide in 2021, and 11,154 Americans died by suicide-by-jumping between 2009 and 2020. Restricting access to lethal methods means more time for a feeling of crisis to pass, allowing people experiencing suicidal thoughts to seek help – which is why studies show that installing physical barriers and nets on bridges commonly used for suicide can save lives. With falling deaths being a common cause of suicide, suicide prevention advocates have worked to raise awareness of suicide prevention barriers in recent years.

The Barriers To Suicide Act is led by Representatives Donald Beyer, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Grace Napolitano. It is endorsed by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, RI International, the Kennedy Forum, the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists, the National League for Nursing, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, and the American Psychological Association.

Text of the Barriers To Suicide Act is available here, and a one-pager on the bill is available here.

Original Source can be found here.