The United States House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to approve a bill aimed at preventing suicides among veterans.
The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act was passed with 403 votes in favor of the bill, no votes against it, and 30 lawmakers abstaining. The bill was named for a Marine veteran activist who took his own life in 2011.
The bill would require annual reviews of the VAs suicide prevention programs, and would offer a student loan repayment program for mental health specialists who choose to work within the VA health system.
The bill was one of the first undertaken by the new House of Representatives, and supporters hope that it will move speedily through the Senate as well. The author of the bill, Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn), said that more than 750 veterans have committed suicide in the month since the bill passed in the House but failed in the Senate.
The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla), and Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), an Iraq veteran.
In addition to requiring annual reviews of the VA program, the bill would also create a centralized VA website with information on the departments mental health services, establish a pilot program to give veterans transitioning from active duty access to mental health care, and would help the VA to collaborate more easily with non-profit mental health organizations.
Last year, the bill was also passed by the House but was blocked by a single vote in the U.S. Senate in the final hours of the 2014 session. The senator who blocked the bill, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), has since retired, giving many veterans advocates hope that it may pass this year. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) introduced the bill in the Senate last year with 21 co-sponsors, and plans to do so again.
The bill has not yet been scheduled for a vote in the Senate, but supporters are hopeful that the bill will be passed quickly and without issue.
In 2013, the Department of Veterans Affairs released a study showing that an average of 22 veterans committed suicide each day. Supporters of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention bill hope that these increased resources can help solve the problem of veteran suicide, and can treat those suffering from mental health issues before it is too late.
If you are suffering from PTSD, suicidal ideation, or other mental health problems, make sure you get the help you need. The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 to speak with you about your dangerous thoughts, and can be reached at 1-800-273-8255.
If you need help applying for disability benefits as a result of the emotional or physical trauma you suffered during your service, Vets National Advocates can help.
Call 877-777-4021 or use our case evaluation form to schedule your free consultation today.
