Joe Holleman | Post-Dispatch

Political correspondent/columnist

Suicide prevention was at the top of the legislative list this week for U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell, who is one of the sponsors of a bill to raise awareness of a crisis hotline.

Bell joined a bipartisan group of U.S. House and Senate members to designate every Sept. 8 as "988 Day."

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline made its debut in 2022 for people with suicidal thoughts, mental health challenges or substance use issues. The hotline connects callers with counselors who offer free help 24 hours a day.

“In Missouri and across the country, families are carrying the weight of losing loved ones to suicide," Bell said in a statement. "But too many people still don’t know it’s there when they need it."

Also sponsoring the bill is U.S.

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