Victory for Veterans’ Mental Health
The U.S. House of
Representatives has unanimously passed a landmark bipartisan bill, S.785, The
Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act. It
passed the Senate earlier this year and will now go to President Trump for his
signature. This legislation is a great victory for veterans' mental health care.
S. 785 is named to
celebrate the legacy of NAMI Montana member and retired Navy SEAL Commander
John Scott Hannon, who served for 23 years and fought a courageous battle with
post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and bipolar disorder.
When veterans transition
out of service into civilian life, they can experience many challenges. And tragically, 17 veterans die by suicide each day. Our nation must do better for those who
serve our country. This legislation will:
- Provide wrap-around
suicide prevention services through veteran-serving community organizations
- Increase accountability of mental health and suicide prevention programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
- Help rural veterans by expanding VA telehealth care
- Boost research, including creating a Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative to identify biomarkers for mental health conditions
This bill will help
transitioning and former service members access better care—care they deserve
and need—and advance research into mental health conditions.
CDR Hannon embodied the
strength of veterans with mental health conditions, and this bill represents
his passion and efforts to improve access to veterans’ mental health care. Please
thank your Representative for supporting the passage of this important bill to
improve veterans’ access to mental health care.