Veterans’ mental health and suicide prevention bill passes House.

Renew. Rebuild. Recover. A blog from West Michigan Community Mental Health. 

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed legislation aimed at preventing veterans’ suicide. The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act allows the Veterans Administration to team with nonprofits focused on promoting mental health to carry out its suicide prevention programs. Additionally, the legislation establishes a three-year pilot program to pay for psychiatrists’ education if they work at the VA for at least two years.

“The last several years have seen significant increases in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs mental health and suicide prevention budget, its staff and its programs. However, we have not seen a corresponding decrease in the number of our nation’s heroes who take their own lives,” House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL) said. “We have got to do more to help these veterans.”

The legislation passed the House by a vote of 403-0 and now heads to the Senate where it is expected to be approved easily. More information can be found at www.thenationalcouncil.org/capitol-connector.

Credit: Michael Petruzzelli, The National Council Capitol Connector, January 15, 2015.  Renew.  Rebuild. Recover. is brought to you by West Michigan Community Mental Health.