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September 15, 2026
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Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextSUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
SENATE RESOLUTION 853—RECOGNIZING SUICIDE AS A SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH
PROBLEM AND EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF SEPTEMBER 8,
2026, AS “988 DAY” AND THE ROLE OF 988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE
Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Peters) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:
S. Res. 853
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (referred to in this preamble as the “CDC”), in
2024—
(1) suicide was the second-leading cause of death for
people aged 10 to 34;
(2) suicide was responsible for more than 48,800 deaths, or
about 1 death every 11 minutes; and
(3) suicide was the tenth-leading cause of death in the
United States overall;
Whereas, according to the CDC, from 1999 through 2018, the
national suicide rate increased by 35 percent;
Whereas suicide and attempts have a devastating and long-
lasting impact on individuals, families, and communities
across the United States;
Whereas over 90 percent of individuals who die by suicide
were living with a diagnosable mental health condition at the
time of their death, conditions that are frequently
undiagnosed or untreated;
Whereas untreated mental health conditions, such as
depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders,
significantly increase the risk of suicide;
Whereas access to timely and effective mental health
services and crisis support is a vital component of suicide
prevention;
Whereas, on July 16, 2022, 988 became the nationwide,
three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline, now known as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
(referred to in this preamble as the “988 Lifeline”);
Whereas the 988 Lifeline is operated by the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration (referred to in
this preamble as “SAMHSA”) and connects individuals in
crisis to a national network of over 200 State and locally
funded crisis centers that are available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week;
Whereas the 988 Lifeline offers services in over 240
languages, and provides support through phone, chat, and TTY
services for the deaf and hard of hearing, as well as
specialized options, including a veterans crisis line and
services for Spanish speakers;
Whereas, since the launch of the 988 Lifeline in July 2022,
it has routed nearly 26,200,000 contacts, including calls,
texts, and chats;
Whereas, according to SAMHSA, a recent study found that 98
percent of callers reported the 988 Lifeline was helpful and
88 percent of callers said the 988 Lifeline prevented them
from harming themselves;
Whereas, since the original launch of the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline in 2005, annual contact volume increased
steadily by approximately 14 percent, with the number of
interactions growing from 46,000 in 2005 to over 7,800,000 in
2025;
Whereas, from July 2022 to July 2026, the 988 Lifeline
received 26,200,000 contacts, and in June 2026 alone, the 988
Lifeline received over 770,000 contacts, an increase of 92
percent over June 2023; and
Whereas SAMHSA annually recognizes September 8th as 988
Day, which is observed by organizations nationwide to raise
awareness of the service and promote mental health support:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) supports the designation of September 8, 2026, as “988
Day”;
(2) recognizes suicide as a serious and growing public
health concern in the United States;
(3) commends the development and implementation of the 988
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline as a critical component of the
national mental health safety net;
(4) encourages continued public education and outreach
regarding the availability and importance of the 988 Suicide
and Crisis Lifeline, particularly for high-risk populations;
(5) supports Federal, State, and local efforts to expand
access to mental health services and crisis intervention
programs; and
(6) supports the goals and ideals of 988 Day as a way to
recognize the essential role of the 988 Suicide and Crisis
Lifeline in saving lives and supporting mental health across
all communities in the United States.