"Senator Gordon Smith has demonstrated the ability to turn a great personal loss into a selfless act that benefits the Nation," said A. Kathryn Power, M.Ed., Director of SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services.
The son of U.S. Senator Gordon Smith, J.D. (D-OR), Garrett Lee Smith loved the outdoors and spending time with family and friends.
Garrett also suffered from depression. He committed suicide the day before his twenty-second birthday.
Since then, Senator Smith has supported bipartisan legislation in Garrett's memory to help other families and communities stop suicide among the young.
