In recent years, legislation has been enacted that greatly affects the state of suicide prevention at the state and federal levels.
At the federal level, an act, S. 1062, was introduced in the U.S. Senate on June 22, 2022, by Jack Reed (D-R.I.) with co-sponsor Jerry Moran (R-Kan.).
This act, cited as the “Suicide Prevention Act,” is intended to intensify surveillance of self-harm data to eventually enact a grant program to public health departments to provide more suicide and self-harm prevention.
And, more recently, a similar version of this bill (the bipartisan Youth Suicide Prevention Research Act) was introduced to the House on April 9, 2025, by Democratic Rep. Laura Gillen (NY-04) and GOP Rep. Nick Begich (AK-01), titled H.R. 263,0; which was similarly focused on intensifying surveillance and research on youth suicide, specifically to improve prevention. For now, the federal suicide prevention bill is currently being referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee, awaiting hearings and potential amendments.
Generalizing LGBTQ+
At the other end of the spectrum, while the suicide prevention hotline is a national 3-digit crisis line (“988”) as of July 2022, there have been targeted federal cuts to specialized services for the lifeline. On June 17, 2025, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) posted the following statement on its government website:
“On July 17, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will no longer silo LGB+ youth services, also known as the ‘Press 3 option,’ to focus on serving all help seekers, including those previously served through the Press 3 option…”
Before, those identifying with the LGBTQ+ community could press an option to get a counselor specially trained in issues unique to the queer experience. This option being unavailable, along with the noticeable lack of the “T” represented in the LGBTQ+ acronym, further alienates queer youth. However, they are more likely to experience feelings of persistent depression and hopelessness, according to a study done by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
In New York State
At the state level, on Sept. 9, 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law the Student Lifeline Act, requiring higher education institutions to include the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and related crisis-text line on student identification cards. Another bill (New York Assembly Bill 2483) was introduced in Jan 2025 that would require an eviction warrant to include suicide prevention and mental health information. This bill is still pending in the committee assembly as of Oct 2025.
Spreading the Word
Kat Zempolich is an ambassador for suicide awareness and ending the stigma of mental illness. She had lost a close friend to suicide, which caused a few friends and her to found Morgan’s Message. Zempolich works part-time, engaging with the community, interviewing guests, and editing their podcast, “The Mental Matchup.”
“[We] want to change the narrative around her death and elevate her legacy in a way that inspired and instilled hope in other people. Meaning, we lost Morgan, we don’t want anyone else to lose their Morgan,” said Zempolich.
Morgan’s Message works with ambassadors who apply through their website and go on to help create safe spaces by leading meetings, sharing educational resources, and running dedication games to raise awareness around suicide and depression at schools. It is a nonprofit that is funded through donations and grants.
“We’re a nonpartisan organization, meaning I’m 95% positive there’s been no disruption to funding based on the administrative change this year,” said Zempolich. Making them less vulnerable to federal budget cuts like SAMHSA.
At the Local Level
In communities, services that are offshoots of the Office of Mental Health (OMH) provide outreach for demographics that are potentially more at risk. For example, Mason Hovick works as an intensive case manager for members of the unhoused population and uses mental health services as part of his overall plan.
“One thing that we’ve seen a lot, and especially in recent years, is dual diagnoses, so individuals with substance abuse disorders and mental health disorders combined,” said Hovick.
When he works with someone who has problems with them, they outsource specialized mental health resources for clients.
“Say, for example, we have a client who is either threatening self-harm or threatening to harm others. Obviously, we attempt to de-escalate as best as we can, but we would also reach out to MCAT, who are licensed and who can come out to help,” said Hovick.
In Summary
Both the federal level and state level of the government have been legislatively active, focused on making the 988 lifeline more streamlined, implementing grants for self-harm and suicide prevention research, and specialized public service funding. While in communities, nonprofits and organizations do community outreach to further buffer any federal funding gaps that could happen now or in the future.
If You or Someone You Know Needs Assistance
Regardless of the stability of funding for suicide safety resources, help is always available. If someone is in immediate crisis, the 988 lifeline is available to provide support 24/7 through chat, call or texting. Along with resources in the local community for more at-risk demographics, such as queer youth, veterans, and unhoused individuals, or anyone else.
–Photo courtesy of NYS Bridge Authority