Results for America Applauds Reps. Pettersen and Yakym’s Bipartisan, Evidence-Based Approach to Combating Youth Suicide

When the problem is as urgent as saving children’s lives, investing in solutions with proven results is imperative

Media Contact: Adam Peck, email: [email protected] or text/call: (914) 874-7887

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Results for America applauded U.S. Reps. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) and Rudy Yakym (R-IN) — two co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional What Works Caucus —introduced the Evidence-Based Youth Suicide Prevention Act of 2026, which would establish a Youth Suicide Prevention Demonstration Pilot at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to find, fund and implement proven strategies for preventing youth suicide across schools, communities, Tribes and youth-serving organizations.

The bill would help protect young people by prioritizing interventions backed by evidence, while also investing in the evaluation of promising approaches. These interventions would better reach young people by working closely with schools and other community settings that students and families already trust, and could be scaled by helping policymakers identify which prevention strategies are most effective, for whom, and in which settings.

Read the full bill text and a brief summary of the bill.

“The bipartisan Evidence-Based Youth Suicide Prevention Act of 2026 is rooted in the urgent reality that suicide is the second-leading cause of death among children and adolescents. Congress has an opportunity — and a responsibility — to find, fund and implement proven solutions to address the mental health crisis among youth,” said Michele Jolin, CEO and Co-Founder of Results for America. “We applaud Reps. Pettersen and Yakym for their leadership in focusing on what works to save young lives.”

“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,” said Rep. Pettersen. “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.”

“As a father of three, I know there is nothing more important than protecting our children,” said Rep. Yakym. “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.”

In 2023, suicide was the second-leading cause of death for young people ages 10 to 24. Data from the CDC finds that nearly 40% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, with 1 in 5 reporting suicidal ideation, and nearly 1 in 10 attempting suicide. Schools and community organizations are often where warning signs first emerge and where young people can be reached early. This urgent bill will help provide local leaders with the resources to identify, test and scale effective prevention strategies that they currently lack.

About Results for America:

Results for America helps government leaders find, fund and implement solutions that work to accelerate upward economic mobility and improve lives. We work with federal, state and local government decision-makers to increase their use of evidence and data in budget, policy and program decisions.

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