Smith, Wyden Announce $400,000 Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Grant for Oregon

The award will be distributed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - -U.S. Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden announced Thursday that the State of Oregon will receive a $400,000 Garrett Lee Smith Memorial grant to implement a youth suicide prevention and intervention plan.

"It`s hard to imagine the pain of thousands of children who are now suffering in silence and that of their families who just want to help," said Smith.

"This grant is especially important to me because it will make a difference in the place where Garrett grew up and the community he loved."

"Oregon families will see some measure of relief in their struggle with the painful illness of depression with these grant funds," said Wyden.

"Oregonians from all walks of life will honor the memory of Garrett Smith as they get help dealing with this difficult and silent problem."

The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, signed into law on October 21, 2004, created a program within SAMHSA to enhance suicide prevention efforts at the state and local level and on college campuses.

The bill authorized $82 million in funding over three years.