Friends and neighbors,

September is Suicide Awareness Month, and yesterday – Sunday, September 10 – was World Suicide Prevention Day. It is a time to educate people about the risks of suicide, reduce stigma around mental health issues, and provide support for those affected by suicide. It is critical because suicide is a major public health issue – it is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. Bringing this topic into the open helps people realize they are not alone and encourages those at risk to seek help. Increased understanding, education, and support can help prevent suicides.

Yet, while so many organizations work tirelessly to save people from this tragic fate, Minnesota Democrats will once again have a pro-suicide next session. They recently announced they will renew their effort to legalize assisted suicide here.

I do not think I need to tell you the dangers of this bill. Life is a gift from God. WE are gifts from God, every one of us. We are called to cherish and protect life.

Our lives have value and purpose. That purpose, that value, is not diminished by ill health, disability, or any other circumstance. It is not up to us to determine when our time on earth is over, but rather to trust in God’s plan for us. Assisted suicide contradicts this fundamental truth by putting the power of life and death into human hands.

Assisted suicide exerts a heavy burden on the mental and physical well-being of not just the patient, but their loved ones. It can lead to feelings of guilt, regret, and depression for everyone involved. And that is to say nothing of taking us further down the slippery slope of devaluing life.

And that is to say nothing of taking us further down the slippery slope of devaluing life. Look at what has happened in Canada after they legalized assisted suicide. Requests have expanded far beyond the original intent of the law, including a 61-year-old man with hearing loss and a 23-year-old depressed and unemployed man. Patients have listed poverty, lack of housing, and healthcare costs as reasons for their requests, which diverge sharply from the standard of “unbearable medical suffering.”

There are other options. Everyone who is battling a disability or a difficult diagnosis deserves our love, our support, and our protection. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help. There are resources available that can provide support and guidance.

Please remember that every life is precious and valuable.

God Bless,