Washington, DC—Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), the senior Republican in the United States Senate, released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to pass the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act. The Senator first introduced this legislation last May and has been working with House leaders to advance the bill to a vote after it passed in the Senate last November.

“I believe that by making the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline system more user-friendly and accessible, we can save thousands of lives by helping people find the help they need when they need it most,” said Hatch. “Every minute we wait, we leave helpless hundreds of Americans who are struggling with suicidal thoughts. There are literally lives on the line here—and leaving them on hold is not an option. I’m pleased that the House has at long last taken action to move this legislation.” 

The improved suicide hotline will connect callers directly to trained call center crisis workers like those Senator Hatch met with last year.  

Background:

Senator Hatch called improving the suicide hotline “a first step in helping those contemplating suicide” after meeting with Utah families who noted that the greatest stumbling block in suicide prevention is access to mental health services.   

Senator Hatch spoke on the Senate floor last month when he urged the House to pass the critical proposal. He also discussed Utah’s suicide epidemic, and its prevalence among teens in the LGBT community, and his efforts to curb suicides by developing a three-digit national suicide hotline number. Click here for video and full text. 

The Senator likewise spoke during Suicide Prevention Week regarding his efforts to pass the legislation. Click here for his remarks.

When Senator Hatch introduced this legislation last May, he noted how dire Utah’s suicide epidemic has become. Click here for that release.  

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