Padilla, Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Install Suicide Prevention Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, introduced the Barriers to Suicide Act, legislation that would create grants to help state and local governments fund nets and barriers to reduce suicide on bridges and other high-risk infrastructure.

"Too many Americans die by suicide - and we know physical barriers can help save lives during times of crisis," said Senator Padilla. "California has seen firsthand at the Golden Gate Bridge that nets and barriers work. As we continue to confront the suicide crisis, we must do more to help state and local governments install nets and barriers on bridges and other high structures. The Barriers to Suicide Act is commonsense, life-saving legislation that will help enhance safety standards and make our public infrastructure safer."

"We should be doing everything in our power to address our nation's mental health crisis and investing in life-saving barriers plays an important role in preventing a moment of crisis from becoming a tragedy," said Senator Tillis. "The Barriers to Suicide Act will provide critical funding to state and local governments to prevent more valuable lives from being lost."

Nearly 49,000 Americans died by suicide in 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Falling deaths are a common cause of suicide, and restricting access to lethal means allows time for a feeling of crisis to pass, allowing people experiencing suicidal thoughts to seek help. A study found that San Francisco's installation of netting on the Golden Gate Bridge reduced suicide rates by 73% in one year.

Specifically, the Barriers to Suicide Act would:

• Establish a competitive grant program for states and localities to apply for federal funding under the National Highway Performance Program to install nets and barriers on bridges, buildings, parking garages, highway-rail grade crossings, and at rail stations; and
• Authorize a study to identify the types of structures most commonly used for suicide attempts, types of barriers that are most effective in prevention, and additional strategies to reduce jumping deaths.

In addition to Padilla and Tillis, the bill is cosponsored by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).

"My heart breaks for all those dealing with the incredible grief and sadness of losing someone to suicide. Congress must do everything in its power to support our communities on the frontlines of this public health crisis, including investing in proven strategies to reduce suicides," said Senator Merkley. "The Barriers to Suicide Act is common-sense legislation to help state and local governments fund nets and barriers that have been shown to reduce suicide on bridges and other high-risk infrastructure, so we can save as many lives as possible."

The Barriers to Suicide Act is endorsed by organizations including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE), and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

"The Barriers to Suicide Act meets a critical need to prevent suicide by investing in proven strategies to make public spaces safer for people in crisis," said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). "By funding evidence-based design and infrastructure improvements in high-risk settings, this legislation takes a proactive approach to suicide prevention. NAMI thanks Senators Padilla and Tillis for their leadership and support for this important legislation."

"Barriers work. When we know a public place presents a high risk for suicide, and we know there are proven ways to make it safer, we have an obligation to act," said Erich Mische, CEO of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE). "The introduction of the Barriers to Suicide Act in the Senate is a historic moment, and one made possible in large part by the relentless advocacy of suicide loss survivors who have turned unimaginable loss into action to save other lives. SAVE has been proud to stand with them and to be a vocal and relentless advocate for this legislation. We are grateful to Senators Alex Padilla and Thom Tillis for their bipartisan leadership in moving this commonsense, lifesaving legislation forward."

"Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death in the United States, with 1,246 people dying by suicide after falling from bridges and high places in 2024," said Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). "Research consistently demonstrates that reducing access to lethal means is a well-established suicide prevention strategy. Installing barriers and nets on bridges and other high-risk infrastructure can create critical time and distance from a lethal means, allowing an acute suicidal crisis to pass and creating opportunities for support and intervention. AFSP commends Senators Padilla and Tillis for their bipartisan leadership in introducing this important legislation."

As a co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health caucus, Senator Padilla has been a leader in advocating for increasing mental health care access for all Americans. Last year, he introduced the EARLY Minds Act to combat the growing youth mental health crisis in America through early intervention and prevention services. Padilla has repeatedly condemned the Trump Administration's efforts to purge staff and cut billions in federal funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Under the Biden Administration, Padilla applauded the Federal Communications Commission for making critical improvements to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by adopting the main provisions of Padilla's Local 9-8-8 Response Act of 2023.

Text of the bill is available here.

A one-pager is available here.

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