"Policymakers and Punk Rockers Promote Youth Suicide Prevention"
April 2005
On February 2, 2005, punk rockers from the group Sugarcult joined policymakers on Capitol Hill to send the message that it is time for the federal government to take action to prevent youth suicide. The National Mental Health Association (NMHA) and the Kristin Brooks Hope Center (KBHC) held the press conference to stress the need for increased federal funding and to highlight ways in which other organizations are already doing their part to support the cause.
During the conference, Tim Pagnotta of Sugarcult (guitar/vocals) shared his personal experience with mental illness and how he was able to receive care and support. He noted, however, that too many young people do not have access to proper treatments. To try to ensure better access to such life-saving treatments, one goal of the press conference was to call for full support of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, which authorizes increased spending each year up to $82 million over three years.
National, state and community organizations, as well as private businesses, continue to work hard to prevent youth suicide. In fact, NMHA and KBHC have partnered with SubCity Records on the Hurley International Presents Sub City Records Take Action Tour, which opened February 2, 2005 in order to educate young people about depression and suicide. The tour, which includes a number of well-known hardcore and punk bands, including Sugarcult, will travel to 35 cities across the country. See the events section for more details.
NMHA and KBHC have also advocated for increased funding for children’s mental health services and research, and for operating national hotlines, including:
· 1.800.SUICIDE brings together the knowledge, skill and resources of crisis centers nationwide under a single toll-free telephone number, making critical services available to all.
· Youth America Hotline, the only national youth-to-youth network, offers young people access to their peers in times of crisis.
· 877-GRADHLP line broadens the reach of a vital resource for graduate students in crisis.
Participants at the press conference included representatives Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), Tom Osborne (R-Neb.) and Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.); the Take Action Tour’s headline act Sugarcult; Sub City Records President Louis Posen; Director of GradHelp Nick Repak; Youthline Peer Counselor Erica Summers; and NMHA President and CEO Michael Faenza.
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April 2005 - mpoweryouth.org