Dear Editor,

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have come to realise the importance of not just physical health but mental health wellness.

Unfortunately, in the United States, we are experiencing an alarming rise in suicide and mental illness rates. In 2020, then President Donald Trump signed into effect the national suicide crisis hotline, also known as the 988 hotline. While this resulted in a reduction in suicide rates, it was short-lived. Today, the United States is seeing suicide rates skyrocketing to an all-time high. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention rates suicide as one of the top nine causes of death among Americans, with one suicide occurring every 11 minutes.

When looking into legislation for the nation, there is little focus on how to increase services for those in crisis or who have mental illness. One just needs to look at our laws. While there is a section for almost every situation that can occur in the United States, from drug addiction to laws on health care, there is no category for suicide prevention and mental illness. Even the 988 hotline falls under the category of communication.

The days of stigmatising suicide and mental illness as being something to be swept under the rug is over. Victims of death by suicide have been characterised as being mainly poor and weak, but in actuality, this crisis affects every race, gender, and demographic. Additionally, in the United States, we are witnessing children as young as 10 falling victim to this crisis.

The answer in the United States to preventing the suicide epidemic from sweeping our great nation can be explained in three steps. The first is to start a nationwide campaign to destigmatise mental health treatment and services. Second, provide an easy and convenient mobile crisis team. First responders and police officers need adequate training in mental health and suicide prevention. Finally, insurance companies need to cover telehealth and mental health services so those who are struggling with mental illness can obtain adequate medical treatment.

While the United States continues to focus on mental health, there is lacking legislation on how to help those who suffer from mental illnesses. The negative stigma of mental illness and the lack of services for those needing assistance have led to skyrocketing numbers of suicides. Though the 988 hotline was a great implementation, it is only the start of what the US needs to do to provide its citizens who struggle with mental illnesses with support.

Trisha Slover

slovertrisha@yahoo.com