A bill aimed at improving mental health services for veterans has been introduced in the Senate. It follows DAV’s special report, Women Veterans: A Journey to Mental Health, and includes provisions based on several of DAV’s recommendations.
S. 5210 was introduced by Sen. Jon Tester, Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and seeks to:
A study of the effectiveness of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Assistance Program for female veterans Modified the VA algorithm used to predict high risk of suicide among female veterans As Military Sexual Trauma Incorporates Weighted Risk Factors for Military Personnel: A Review and Report on Collective Veteran Rehabilitation and Readjustment Services for Collective Veterans and Families
Data released last year by the Veterans Administration showed that suicide among female veterans increased by nearly 25% from 2020 to 2021. Women Veterans: A Journey to Mental Wellness is one of the most comprehensive assessments of the unique factors that contribute to the staggering suicide rates among women veterans. How women veterans and the systems responsible for their mental health care can and should be improved.
This report utilizes the latest research and data, combined with a thorough review of the services available to VA, to find that far too many female veterans are suffering from a lack of life-saving mental health care. demonstrated that they were at risk of failure. DAV’s report identifies more than 50 policy and legislative recommendations aimed at bringing about necessary and urgent changes that will save lives.
“This bill is a positive and much-needed step forward in ensuring the best mental health care for women veterans,” said DAV National Legislative Director Joy Ilem. “As the DAV report makes clear, the Department of Veterans Affairs must take a gender-responsive approach to suicide prevention and mental health care. Thank you, Senator Tester, for working with DAV to ensure we reflect the needs of women veterans.”
Read the full report at womenveterans.org and join our advocacy efforts by becoming part of DAV’s Commander Action Network at DAVCAN.org.
