Congressman says we need to work at preventing teen suicide

Congressman Bart Gordon from Murfreesboro is pushing to increase grant money available to states and universities who are looking to implement suicide related prevention programs. The Suicide Prevention Network reports that 60% of youths and 90% of adults who commit suicide suffer from mental illness or substance abuse.

Gordon introduced legislation that was signed into law in 2004 to help communities get the resources they need to fight youth suicide. The Garrett Lee Memorial Act was named after U-S Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon and it provides grants for the prevention programs.