AFSP Supports Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention in FY 26 Federal Funding Priorities

On April 9, 2025, Robert Gebbia, AFSP Chief Executive Officer, submitted written testimony for the hearing record of the U.S House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. His testimony urged support for investments in key initiatives administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA),including $530 million for 988, $38 million for the Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program, and $2.5 billion for mental health research, inclusive of suicide prevention.

Testimony of Robert Gebbia CEO, AFSP:    

U.S. House of Representatives, Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies FY 2026   

Written Testimony for the Hearing Record April 9, 2025  

Chairman Aderholt, Ranking Member DeLauro, and members of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies: Thank you for the opportunity to submit this testimony in support of funding for suicide prevention initiatives as you consider fiscal year 2026 (FY 26) appropriations. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is committed to saving lives and providing hope to those impacted by suicide through evidence-based programs, education, research, and advocacy. AFSP is the leading private funder of suicide prevention research in the U.S. and globally, with 73 chapters across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, conducting a wide range of community-based programs each year.

Suicide remains a serious public health threat in the United States. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that 49,476 lives were lost to suicide in the United States in 2022, the most recent year for which finalized data is available. Suicide deaths in the United States increased from 48,143 to 49,476 (by 2.7%) between the years 2021 and 2022 with the suicide rate for 2022 at 14.21 per 100,000 people (1.2% increase from 2021).¹ In addition, in 2022, an estimated 13.2 million adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.8 million made a plan, and 1.6 million attempted suicide.² Suicide is among the top 9 leading causes of death for people ages 10-64, and the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 20-34.³

To continue a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention, we respectfully request support for key initiatives currently within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Services. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential, around-the-clock and life-saving support for people experiencing a mental health, suicide, or substance use crisis. Comprised of a network of over two hundred crisis centers nationwide, the 988 Lifeline offers immediate counseling and local mental health referrals to individuals who reach out for themselves or on behalf of others. AFSP respectfully requests that Congress continue providing strong support for the 988 Lifeline and include $530 million in FY 26. This level of investment is necessary to support national hotline operations and local call centers, strengthen follow-up services, improve services to at-risk populations, raise awareness for services, and build out the crisis care continuum – to respond to the thousands of individuals more effectively in the United States who experience a suicide, mental health, or substance use crisis each year.

Mental Health Crisis Response Partnership Program. This program facilitates critical partnerships between 988 call centers, community providers, and law enforcement to ensure that individuals experiencing mental health crises receive appropriate, timely care. AFSP supports $100 million in FY 26 for this program to improve services and ensure sustainability of mobile crisis response teams and telehealth services.

Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Youth Suicide Prevention Program. The GLS Youth Suicide Prevention Program helps state and tribal communities implement comprehensive prevention strategies. AFSP advocates for $43.8 million for State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Grants and $8.48 million for Campus Suicide Prevention Grants to support youth-focused initiatives.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC). SPRC provides critical resources, technical assistance, and training to enhance state and local suicide prevention efforts. AFSP requests $11 million in FY 26 to ensure continued support for evidence-based suicide prevention strategies.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program (CSP). The CSP supports community-oriented public health approaches to preventing suicide. The CSP currently supports 24 suicide prevention initiatives nationwide, as well as the real-time collection of data from emergency departments on suicide attempts and suicidal ideation. AFSP respectfully requests that Congress continue providing strong support for the CSP and include $38 million in FY 26. This level of investment will enable the CSP to continue implementing and evaluating a comprehensive and data-driven public health approach to suicide prevention.

National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS). Since its creation in 2002, NVDRS has grown to be implemented in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select territories. NVDRS collects mortality data from death investigators, including law enforcement, coroners, and medical examiners, and provides valuable information about violent deaths, including suicide. NVDRS is a crucial source of data related to trends in suicide, helping researchers, health professionals, and others understand how best to prevent suicide and other forms of violent death. AFSP requests $34.5 million in FY 26. This funding increase would help improve data linkage opportunities and expand outreach to data collection partners at the local level.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Suicide Research at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). NIMH supports critical research aimed at transforming our understanding and treatment of mental illness. Suicide research is a designated priority research area, and NIMH has aligned its work with core federal strategies. AFSP respectfully requests that Congress continue providing strong support for NIMH and include $2,548,662,000 in FY 26. AFSP further requests that Congress direct NIMH to ensure suicide research appropriately incorporates the biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors that contribute to suicide.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Supporting the Mental Health of the Health Professions Workforce Program. The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Protection Act funds critical programs aimed at improving the mental health and well-being of healthcare professionals, a group at increased risk for suicide. AFSP supports $45 million for this program to ensure that healthcare workers receive the support they need to prevent burnout and suicide.

Ensuring a Sufficient Workforce and Capacity

AFSP is aware of the Administration’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and consolidate agencies, including SAMHSA and HRSA. While periodic evaluations and reorganizations of the federal workforce may be necessary, it is crucial to preserve a strong and well-equipped workforce within key health agencies. Suicide prevention is a critical public health issue, and agencies like SAMHSA play a vital role in supporting the provision of community- based mental health, suicide prevention and addiction services. It is paramount that staff reductions and any restructuring at agencies that fund essential and lifesaving services, such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, do not weaken, impede or curtail ongoing efforts to combat suicide, including at high risk, vulnerable populations.

A well-funded and adequately staffed system is essential to providing accessible, effective mental health services, offering immediate crisis intervention, and supporting long-term prevention efforts that are vital to saving lives and bringing hope to millions of people across the country. AFSP requests Congress monitor these developments and act accordingly to ensure that we don’t take steps backwards in the fight against suicide.

Conclusion

AFSP appreciates the Subcommittee's consideration of our FY 26 funding requests and urges your continued support for these vital programs. By investing in suicide prevention, we can save lives and make significant strides toward addressing this ongoing public health crisis. We look forward to working together with you to ensure that the resources necessary to combat suicide are available and effectively utilized.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Robert Gebbia Chief Executive Officer American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

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1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) Fatal Injury Reports. (2022). Retrieved May 11, 2024, from https://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate.html

2 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt42731/2022-nsduh-nnr.pdf.

3 National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2022 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2022, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10-expanded.html on April 23, 2024