To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a comprehensive program designed to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) suicide among veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (in this section referred to as `PTSD') is a serious problem; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should take into consideration the special needs of veterans suffering from PTSD and the special needs of elderly veterans who are at high risk for depression and experience high rates of suicide in developing and implementing the comprehensive program under this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AMONG VETERANS.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs (in this Act referred to as the `Secretary') (a) In General- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AMONG VETERANS- Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`(a) Establishment- The Secretary shall develop and carry out a comprehensive program designed to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans. The program shall incorporate incorporating the components described in section 4.SEC. 4. COMPONENTS OF PROGRAM.(athis section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Staff Education- In carrying out the comprehensive program under section 3this section, the Secretary shall provide for mandatory training for appropriate staff and contractors (including all medical personnel) of the Department of Veterans Affairs who interact with veterans. This training shall cover information appropriate to the duties being performed by such staff and contractors. The training shall include information on--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) recognizing risk factors for suicide;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) proper protocols for responding to crisis situations involving veterans who may be at high risk for suicide; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) best practices for suicide prevention.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Screening of Veterans Receiving Medical Care- In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary shall provide for screening of veterans who receive`(c) Health Assessments of Veterans- In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary shall direct that medical staff offer mental health in their overall health assessment when veterans seek medical care at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility (including a center established under section 1712A of title 38, United States Code) for risk factors for suicide.(c) Tracking of Veterans- In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary shall provide for appropriate tracking of veterans.(d) Counseling and Treatment of Veterans- In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary shall provide for referral of veterans at risk for suicide forhis title) and make referrals, at the request of the veteran concerned, to appropriate counseling and treatment.(e programs for veterans who show signs or symptoms of mental health problems.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Designation of Suicide Prevention Counselors- In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary shall designate a suicide prevention counselor at each Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility other than centers established under section 1712A of title 38, United States Codhis title. Each counselor shall work with local emergency rooms, police departments, mental health organizations, and veterans service organizations to engage in outreach to veterans and improve the coordination of mental health care to veterans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f`(e) Best Practices Research- In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary shall provide for research on best practices for suicide prevention among veterans. Research shall be conducted under this subsection in consultation with the heads of the following entities:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) The Department of Health and Human Services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) The National Institute of Mental Health.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g`(f) Sexual Trauma Research- In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary shall provide for research on mental health care for veterans who have experienced sexual trauma while in military service. The research design shall include consideration of veterans of a reserve component.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h`(g) 24-Hour Mental Health Care- In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary shall provide for mental health care availability to veterans on a 24-hour basis.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i`(h) Hotline- In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary may provide for a toll-free hotline for veterans to be staffed by appropriately trained mental health personnel and available at all times.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(j`(i) Outreach and Education for Veterans and Families- In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary shall provide for outreach to and education for veterans and the families of veterans, with special emphasis on providing information to veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and the families of such veterans. Education to promote mental health shall include information designed to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) remove the stigma associated with mental illness;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) encourage veterans to seek treatment and assistance for mental illness;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) promote skills for coping with mental illness; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) help families of veterans with--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) understanding issues arising from the readjustment of veterans to civilian life;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) identifying signs and symptoms of mental illness; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) encouraging veterans to seek assistance for mental illness.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(k`(j) Peer Support Counseling Program-(1) IN GENERAL- In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary shall (1) In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary may establish and carry out a peer support counseling program, under which veterans shall be permitted to volunteer as peer counselors--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) to assist other veterans with issues related to mental health and readjustment; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) to conduct outreach to veterans and the families of veterans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEERS-`(2) In carrying out the peer support counseling program under this subsection, the Secretary shall provide adequate training for peer counselors.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(l`(k) Other Components- In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary may provide for other actions to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans that the Secretary deems appropriate.SEC. 5.considers appropriate.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`1720F. Comprehensive program for suicide prevention among veterans.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report to Congress-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) REPORT TO CONGRESS.(a) Report RequiredREQUIRED- Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress.(b) Contents of Reportof Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the comprehensive program under section 1720F of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONTENTS OF REPORT- The report shall contain the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1A) Information on the status of the implementation of the program developed pursuant to section 3.(2such program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Information on the time line and costs for complete implementation of the program within two years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3C) A plan for additional programs and activities designed to reduce the occurrence of suicide among veterans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4D) Recommendations for further legislation or administrative action that the Secretary considers appropriate to improve suicide prevention programs within the Department of Veterans Affairs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink