BCHC urges Congress to invest in CDC’s Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program in FY25
October 2024
The Big Cities Health Coalition and 50 other organizations urged House and Senate leadership to allocate $38 million in FY25 to the Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program (CSP) under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
Recent CDC data show that more than 49,000 lives were lost to suicide in the United States in 2022, an increase of nearly 3% over 2021. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S., and the third leading cause of death for youth and young adults aged 10-24, with most deaths impacting those aged 20-24.
Given the substantial impact of suicide on individuals, families, and communities across the nation each year, and the positive outcomes from the CDC’s CSP Program to date, the organizations that have signed this letter urge Congress to fund the CSP at $38 million in FY25.
Established in 2020, the CSP currently funds 24 initiatives nationwide through cooperative agreements designed to implement and evaluate a comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention, with a special focus on populations that are disproportionately affected by suicide.
The CSP addresses the multifaceted nature of suicide through a range of innovative and effective strategies, including community-based prevention programs, research into effective suicide prevention strategies, and implementation of best practices. These CSP initiatives have led to significant benefits, including decreases in suicide rates and increased training, awareness, and data collection.
By promoting mental health awareness, encouraging early intervention, and supporting individuals in crisis, the CSP plays a pivotal role in addressing one of the most serious public health challenges of our time and requires robust funding to continue this work.
