The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Suicide prevention law lacks funding

A newly signed law that would give federal dollars to agencies preventing suicide among young people is currently waiting for money itself.

President Bush signed the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act on Oct. 21. The law, named after the Sen. Gordon Smith's son, who committed suicide last year, provides $82 million over three years.

Smith, R-Ore., sponsored the bill, which could allocate funds to states, Native American tribes and colleges.

But Jean Cunningham, assistant director and chief psychologist for SIUC's Counseling Center, said Congress has yet to appropriate money for the grants. She also said many counseling center staff members and psychologists across the country are lobbying to get this law in motion.

"We [at the Counseling Center] have received e-mails and have been given opportunities and encouraged people to send messages to Congress," Cunningham said.

Even after the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act gets off the ground, the new federal appropriated dollars would only account for several thousand dollars, an amount, Cunningham said, that would not be enough to hire new staff for the Counseling Center.

"If it is funded, it will provide a small amount of money. It's kind of like a drop in the bucket, but it's better than nothing, " she said. "It's money that we didn't have before, and that's good. We are happy with any contribution that we can get."

The Counseling Center, located in Woody Hall, provides several services, including individual and personal emotional counseling and group and couples therapy. They also offer screenings for depression and assessments for learning disabilities.

According to the Suicide Prevention Action Network, USA, suicide takes the life of one person under the age of 25 every two hours and 15 minutes. The non-profit organization also reported that one in 12 college students have made a suicide plan.

SPAN USA executive director Jerry Reed said his organization plans to work with Congress to ensure "full funding of this legislation and establish mental health parity" to all who need help.

Though Cunningham said her office has had a "very busy fall," she noted that an important factor of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act is that it has brought national publicity to an important topic.

"While it is helpful to have more money for suicide prevention, it is also helpful the nation at large to know about the issue," she said.

 

 

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