SALEM — Representative Seth Moulton will host Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for a digital fireside chat. Podcast is posted below.
Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention said: “It is more important than ever to prioritize our mental health. By recognizing what we can control during this unprecedented public health crisis, we can take protective, proactive measures to safeguard our own mental health and that of others. I would like to thank Congressman Moulton for engaging in open dialogue about mental health during these challenging times.”
Moulton and Dr. Moutier talk about strategies to maintain mental wellbeing during a stressful time for most Americans. COVID-19 Crisis
Photos from Monday’s Facebook live event
Financial stress exacerbates mental health concerns. Last week’s job’s numbers showed that 10 million Americans have applied for unemployment assistance in the last month, 6 million of those 10 million applied last week. According to The New York Times, those figures shattered the previous record for the worst week for unemployment filings when 695,000 Americans applied for unemployment assistance in1982.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death.
In addition to its direct work, AFSP is a key partner in the effort to make 988 the national number for mental health emergencies.
Earlier this year, Moulton spoke publicly for the first time about post-traumatic stress from his service in Iraq as a Marine. When he spoke publicly about his experiences, he also announced a plan to make mental health checkups a routine part of life and to make help easier to get. Step one of that plan, requiring every service member to receive a mental health checkup within 21 days of leaving combat, is now law after Moulton successfully amended the recent defense spending bill.
In August, Moulton partnered with Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) to write a bill that would make 988 the national hotline for mental health emergencies. Since The National Suicide Prevention Hotline Designation Act’s introduction in August, it has gained the support of the leading mental health advocacy organizations including AFSP. In December, the FCC authorized the number’s use in anticipation of the bill’s passage. In the Senate, the bill unanimously passed through the Senate Commerce Committee, and is ready for passage when the Senate returns to session. And on March 10th, a key House subcommittee unanimously passed the bill, paving the way forward for a full committee markup, one of the final steps forward before a vote on the House floor.
The legislation is urgently needed. According to The Boston Globe, Samaritans, the group that manages the national suicide prevention lifeline in the Boston area, usually receives 250 and 275 calls a day. Since the start of social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, that number jumped to about 350 calls a day. Meanwhile, text message conversations are on pace to top 1,000 this month, which would be a record high. Moulton announced the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act’s introduction at the Samaritans call center earlier this year.
MORE ABOUT AFSP & ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
AFSP is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health by engaging in the following core strategies:
- Funding scientific research
- Educating the public about mental health and suicide prevention
- Advocating for public policies in mental health and suicide prevention
- Supporting survivors of suicide loss and those affected by suicide in our mission
Learn more here.
AFSP has a resource page dedicated to COVID-19. It is available here.
