Congressman Begich focuses on youth suicide with bill to redirect science research

Anyone who has lost a family member to suicide knows how traumatic and everlasting the pain is. For families of youth who take their own lives, it can be an all-consuming and crushing lifelong burden that debilitates them.

Congressman Nick Begich and Congresswoman Laura Gillen of New York have introduced the Youth Suicide Prevention Research Act, a bipartisan initiative aimed at bolstering federal efforts to understand and combat the rising tide of youth suicide across the United States. The bill will not add to federal spending, but simply redirect research to a needed area.

The legislation, unveiled Monday, seeks to amend the existing Advancing Research to Prevent Suicide Act by directing the National Science Foundation to prioritize research into the effects of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress—two factors widely recognized as significant contributors to mental health challenges.

The bill comes as a response to the known problem of youth suicide in Alaska, where the rate among adolescents aged 15–19 is 30.2 per 100,000, nearly triple the national average of 10.2 per 100,000.

“I have heard from far too many Alaskan families who have been impacted by youth suicide. It’s a deeply personal and heartbreaking reality for many of our communities,” Congressman Begich said. “By expanding federal research into how early childhood trauma and stress contribute to mental health struggles, we can take meaningful steps toward prevention. I’m proud to support this bipartisan effort that makes our youth and their futures a top priority.”

Adverse childhood experiences include abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. Along with prolonged exposure to highly stressful situations, youth are at risk for depression, substance use disorder, and suicide. These issues disproportionately affect regions like Alaska, where geographic isolation, economic challenges, and limited access to mental health resources compound the problem, and where there is are subcultures of substance abuse.

The Youth Suicide Prevention Research Act builds on the framework of the Advancing Research to Prevent Suicide Act by broadening the NSF’s research mandate. The expanded focus aims to provide a deeper understanding of how early life challenges shape long-term mental health outcomes, equipping policymakers and communities with the tools to develop targeted interventions. Notably, the legislation achieves this without requiring additional taxpayer funding, making it a cost-effective step toward addressing a national public health priority.

For Alaska, where the stark disparity in youth suicide rates has long been a call to action, the bill represents a glimmer of hope, albeit one that could take years to yield results.