Suicide prevention took center stage at the House Consumer Protection & Business meeting on January 17, 2025, as advocates pushed for critical legislation aimed at safeguarding youth. Anna Nepomaceno, director of public policy for NAMI Washington, delivered a powerful testimony in support of House Bill 1209, highlighting alarming statistics that reveal suicide as the second leading cause of death among young people in the state.

According to Nepomaceno, an average of 2.6 youths aged 10 to 24 die by suicide each week in Washington, with rates of youth suicide and attempts skyrocketing by over 600% from 2013 to 2021. She emphasized the urgent need for action, particularly regarding the accessibility of sodium nitrite, a substance linked to impulsive suicide attempts. "When a person contemplating suicide has access to lethal means, they're more likely to act," she warned, noting that sodium nitrite can be delivered quickly and poses a significant risk due to its rapid effects.

Nepomaceno shared the tragic story of 17-year-old Bennett Brown, who died after ingesting sodium nitrite while attempting to call for help. "He died so quickly that the paramedics could not save him," she stated, underscoring the need for stricter regulations on this substance to prevent similar tragedies.

The testimony concluded with a call to action, urging lawmakers to consider the lives of the 1,000 youths who contemplate suicide for every one that dies. "We have opportunities to save lives by making it harder for them to access this highly concentrated substance," she said.

The committee then shifted focus to House Bill 1078, but the impact of the discussions surrounding youth suicide prevention and the regulation of sodium nitrite lingered, highlighting the pressing need for legislative measures to protect vulnerable young people in Washington.