10-13-2024 2:49pm

Landsman Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Support for Veterans

Beth Callahan Editor

From the Office of Congressman Greg Landsman

WARREN COUNTY, OH -- Suicide prevention is currently the most urgent issue facing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). To address this, Congressman Landsman, as a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has partnered with Congressmen Luttrell, Van Orden, and Deluzio to introduce H.R.9924 – the What Works for Preventing Veteran Suicide Act – bipartisan legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to draft and implement best practices for suicide prevention pilots and grant programs that would allow for more effective data collection.

The What Works for Preventing Veteran Suicide Act would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish clear and measurable objectives for suicide prevention pilot and grant programs carried out through the Veterans Health Administration. This would improve data collection, transparency, and create a clear plan to evaluate program success, ensuring resources go to the most effective initiatives for preventing veteran suicide. The VA would share program results and best practices with stakeholders, then implement those best practices.

“This bill will save countless lives. Too many veterans are dying by suicide every day, and we have to do more to prevent it. Many veterans are dealing with severe mental health issues and deserve the best care possible. If we focus the VA’s resources on the most effective programs, we can make a significant impact in reducing these heartbreaking and entirely unacceptable rates of veteran suicide,” explained Landsman

The What Works for Preventing Veteran Suicide Act has been endorsed by the national Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

"Reducing and eliminating veteran suicide is as complex as it is essential, and the VA must have the best, most up-to-date information available. The What Works for Preventing Veteran Suicide Act would establish objectives, properly evaluate VA suicide prevention programs and organize comprehensive data to make better, lifesaving decisions. DAV is proud to support this crucial legislation, and we thank Congressman Landsman for his leadership," noted Edward Reese, DAV Washington Headquarters Executive Director.

Meggan Coleman, Veterans of Foreign Wars National Legislative Associate Director, added “The VFW supports the What Works for Preventing Veteran Suicide Act to establish standard practices for a grant or pilot program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs through the Veterans Health Administration. The VFW understands that clear and measurable objectives are essential in collecting data that would propel the efforts and initiatives of suicide prevention to be as effective as possible. It is vital to be good stewards of all the funds that are allocated for the reduction and end of suicide in the veteran community. We thank Congressman Landsman for introducing this bill and look forward to it becoming law.”

The full text of the What Works for Preventing Veteran Suicide Act can be found here.