"The federal government must make substantial increases in medical research for suicide prevention, mental health, substance use disorders, and diagnostic tools," John Madigan, senior vice president of public policy for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), told POPSUGAR. This is particularly important because suicide rates are on the rise, increasing 35 percent since 1999, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control.
Madigan explained that this research will help the medical community better understand the circumstances and conditions that lead to suicide and guide strategies for prevention. Because knowledge is power, it will also enable providers to give the most effective treatment possible to the millions of people who are struggling with mental illness.
The Senate and House appropriations committees play a major role in allocating funding for research, so pay close attention to Congressional races if you want to see progress on this issue.
