Congressman Yakym introduces evidence-based Youth Suicide Prevention Act

Today, the bipartisan Evidence-Based Youth Suicide Prevention Act of 2026, led by Congressman Rudy Yakym (R-IN-02) and Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), was introduced in the House of Representatives.

The bill would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop evidence-based strategies to help prevent youth suicide.

“As a father of three, I know there is nothing more important than protecting our children,” Rep. Yakym said. “I’m proud to join Rep. Pettersen in co-leading this important bill, which will take meaningful, evidence-based steps to educate the public and prevent youth suicide. We cannot accept that suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people. We can do more to save lives and give families hope.”

“I lost my brother, Justin, to suicide over 15 years ago – there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of him and wish he was still here with us,” Rep. Pettersen said. “Unfortunately, he slipped through the cracks because he did not have access to the support he needed while struggling. And I know so many families and kids are in the same boat, which is why our communities need investments in programs that work. This bill does just that by investing in strategies that we can know can actually make a difference and save the lives of people like my brother, Justin, before it’s too late.” 

Full bill text can be found here.

Background:

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people, and schools are often the first place that warning signs emerge. While communities across the country are working to address this crisis, many school districts and local organizations lack clear evidence-based strategies to determine what approaches will prevent these tragedies before they occur.

The bill takes steps to address youth suicide by:  

• Creating a competitive federal grant program to help states, school districts, and local communities develop effective youth suicide prevention programs.
• Prioritizing local flexibility to ensure that resources are delivered to communities who can to tailor programs most effectively for their needs.