Suicide rates in the U.S. have been on a steady incline since the 2000s, and recently had a sharp increase in numbers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, over 49,000 people died, which is one death every 11 minutes. Everyday, someone loses a friend or family member to suicide, and this problem is only getting worse. This is unacceptable.

The implementation of suicide prevention training, such as QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), in high schools would decrease the amount of suicides in the U.S. It could not only help the students themselves, but anyone else in need of help who they meet. It's an important like skill that they could take with them into adulthood.

It is crucial that we take action to combat this growing issue, or else the number will only keep growing. Signing this petition will show our nations leaders that we want this to stop. That we don't want our friends and family member to become an addition to the rapidly growing number. If we gather enough signatures, this issue can be presented to the Department of Education to make this goal real.