1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 3643
Sponsored by Representative ELMER
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced.The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: Creates a new state day to raise awareness of youth suicide. (Flesch Readability Score:
80.3).
Designates October 9 of each year as Oregon Youth Suicide Awareness Day.
Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to Oregon Youth Suicide Awareness Day; and declaring an emergency.
Whereas the topic of youth suicide does not receive the elevation and attention it deserves; and
Whereas youth suicide has impacted far too many communities and families throughout our
beautiful state; and
Whereas the warning signs of youth suicide often go unnoticed or unrecognized; and
Whereas shame, stigma and a lack of knowledge are barriers to seeking professional mental
health support; and
Whereas 20 percent of all high school students have reported having serious thoughts about
suicide;and
Whereas in Oregon, 38 percent of high school juniors reported feeling so sad or hopeless they
stopped normal activities; and
Whereas 109 Oregon youths died by suicide in 2022; and
Whereas in 2022, Oregon had the 12th highest youth suicide rate in the nation; and
Whereas according to Mental Health America, Oregon ranks last in the nation in balancing the
prevalence of youth mental illness with access to care; and
Whereas suicide remains the second leading cause of death in the nation among people aged 5
to 24; and
Whereas Oregon must remain dedicated to ending the prevalence of youth suicide; and
Whereas the young lives we have lost to suicide live on in our hearts and memories; now,
therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. October 9 of each year is designated as Oregon Youth Suicide Awareness
Day.
SECTION 2.This 2025 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2025 Act takes effect
on its passage.
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 4363