2 JUNE 17, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Senate approves Addabbo bills to prevent veteran suicide
BY PAUL JUNIOR PRUDENT
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
The state Senate approved two
bills, co-sponsored by Queens
state Senator Joseph Addabbo
Jr., which aim to raise awareness and
prevent veteran suicide.
The first legislation (S.6194B)
intends to establish a three-digit
(988) suicide prevention and mental
health crisis hotline system, and the
second (S.5148) recommends what is
called the “Suicide Awareness and
Remembrance Flag” as the official
state flag for raising awareness of
veteran suicide.
“Suicide amongst our veterans remains
a legislative priority for me
and is a critical issue in New York
state,” said New York State Senator
Joseph Addabbo Jr., a member of the
Senate Veterans, Homeland Security
and Military Affairs Committee.
According to the American
Foundation for Suicide Prevention,
suicide is the 12th leading cause
of death in New York. In 2020, for
every 100,000 New Yorkers, more
than eight lose their life to suicide.
Nationally, roughly 6,000 veterans
die each year due to suicide.
Senator Addabbo said the pandemic
made the situation worse for
many people who felt isolated and
overwhelmed. He said the bill related
to the 988 hotline will act proactively
to provide critical support to people
at risk for suicide.
Currently, 911 is the only system
used for all emergencies. This new
legislation intends to provide a more
equitable response to mental health,
substance abuse, and suicidal crises
with the new 988 hotline and the
support of trained counselors from
the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline.
The first legislation has the mission
to raise awareness and break the
stigma of suicide. It would establish
the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance
Flag as the official state flag,
and directs the commissioner of general
services to establish a protocol
for the flying of such flag.
“The Suicide Awareness and Remembrance
Flag will raise awareness
of veteran suicide while helping
us remember and honor those who
have served and fallen victim to
suicide,” Addabbo said.
According to National Veteran Suicide
Prevention’s last report, veterans
continue to be at the greatest risk
of committing suicide among the U.S.
population. In 2018, the suicide rate
was 27.5 per 100,000 among veterans
compared to 18.2 per 100,000 among
non-veteran U.S. adults.
In 2015, Addabbo contributed to
the legislation that aims to improve
health care and help lower property
taxes for veterans of all ages. Now
he’s supporting the legislation
addressing the mental health and
suicide issue among veterans.
“Raising awareness, along with
expanding services like the new 988
hotline, will help those in need find
critical support before it’s too late,”
Addabbo said.
Both bills were approved unanimously
by the Senate and are now
being considered in the Assembly.
State Senator Joseph Addabbo speaks at the wreath-laying ceremony in
Forest Hills. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
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