A day doesn’t go by that I don’t talk to a parent in Eastern Washington who tells me their teenager is depressed. I think about the mom who told me she can’t leave her daughter alone because she harms herself. Or the mom who lost her 23-year-old son to a drug overdose after purchasing a fentanyl-laced pill he thought was Xanax. 

There has never been a more urgent time for action. That’s why I introduced bipartisan legislation today to reauthorize important programs under the Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Memorial Act. This bill will help ensure continued access to suicide prevention programs that have saved lives and given hope to young adults in need of rescue from despair.

In Eastern Washington, GLS Programs have helped Washington State University bring additional mental health services to campus and provide a growing number of students with resources to deal with depression, anxiety, stress, and thoughts of suicide. My legislation would ensure this important work can continue. 

Together, we can build on this progress for a more secure future for the next generation and provide healing to those struggling with the trials of life.