Bush Signs Youth Suicide Prevention Law

[Chreteau]

It was only last month when 19-year-old Nathan Mickelson hung himself outside Blair-Shannon.

Bush Signs Youth Suicide Prevention Law
Courtesy of Seattle Post-Intelligencer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush on Thursday signed into law a bill authorizing $82 million in grants aimed at preventing suicide among young people.

The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act is named for the son of Oregon Republican Sen. Gordon Smith, who championed the legislation as a tribute to his 21-year-old son, who committed suicide last year. The senator, his wife Sharon, daughter Brittany and son Morgan attended the signing ceremony at the White House.

"Sharon and I are deeply grateful for the support we've received over the past year," Gordon Smith said. "Passing this bill was very personal to us because we wanted some good to come of Garrett's tragedy. There is so much more that can be done, but this is a very strong step forward in helping children and preventing tragedies like the one we experienced."

The law authorizes $82 million over three years to provide grants to states, Indian tribes, colleges and universities to develop youth suicide prevention and intervention programs. It emphasizes screening programs that identify mental illness in children as young as sixth-graders, and provides referrals for community-based treatment and training for child care professionals.

Money for the grants has not been fully appropriated.

Jerry Reed, executive director of the Suicide Prevention Action Network, said the law is the first federal law specifically aimed at youth suicide prevention.

"Today is an important day for thousands of survivors, who have fought hard to turn their loss into the prevention of someone else's," said Reed, who attended the signing ceremony. "If fully funded, this bill can save the lives of thousands of young people."

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3,000 children and young adults take their lives each year, making suicide the third-leading cause of death between the ages of 10 and 24. Each year, more that 600,000 young people require medical attention for a suicide attempt.

[HatePirate]

What a waste of $82 million. If people can get piercings, tatoos, cut themselves, abort babies, change their gender, and even have crystals surgically placed in their eyes, why can't they kill themselves? It's their body and it doesn't hurt anyone else, right?

[Chreteau]

It's their body and it doesn't hurt anyone else, right?

It's their body? Absolutely.

It doesn't hurt anyone else, right? Wrong.

Although I'm a firm believer that nobody should be forced to continue living, and I like the idea of assisted suicide for the terminally ill, it's important to maintain a sense of reality. The fact is the death of a family member or loved one hurts.

It's also important, in my opinion, to have some system in place to prevent suicide of the mentally ill. By mentally ill I mean those who are incapable of making an informed decision.

Then again, in the jungle the predators usually catch the slowest and weakest animals, those in back of the herd. By removing the weakest animals, the herd is essentially made stronger. Perhaps if we kill the stupid people in society ... nah.

[HatePirate]

It doesn't hurt anyone else, right? Wrong.

That's emotional pain, though. You can tell your family members off and it'll cause emotional pain. Basically you're saying people shouldn't kill themselves because their family members don't want them to. They think there's a better way to solve your problems. It's the same thing as abortion. Only you're aborting yourself. Hehe.

[Chreteau]

Basically you're saying people shouldn't kill themselves because their family members don't want them to.

I said nothing of the sort!

I said that although nobody should be forced to continue living the fact is the death of a family member or loved one hurts.

I never said people shouldn't kill themselves. If you want to kill yourself, go ahead. But don't lie and believe it won't hurt others.

[Fried Squirrel]

I want to kill a monkey. Is that ok?

[Chreteau]

I want to kill a monkey. Is that ok?

I'm not racist. I own a color TV.

[Fried Squirrel]

I want to kill a monkey. Is that ok?

I'm not racist. I own a color TV.

What does that have to do with monkey?

[Chreteau]

What does that have to do with monkey?

If I answered THAT question, then I'd REALLY sound racist.

"....Sounds almost exciting as our last call....It was right out of Gorillas in the Mist."
Officer Laurence M. Powell, LAPD Foothill Division
March 3, 1991, 12:31 a.m. PST.

[Celtic Samurai]

More people should kill themselves. I am very Pro-Death.

[tiffybird24]

i think you are quite disturbed.