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Today, President Obama signed H.R. 203, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act into law.  This bipartisan legislation – which unanimously passed both the House and Senate – addresses the epidemic of suicide among our nation’s veterans. 

“Those who serve overseas return home from battle with scars both seen and unseen,” said Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY). “Thanks to the SAVE Act, veterans and their families who struggle to overcome mental health challenges will have access to improved resources, support and benefits – all well earned through service to our nation. I was proud to support this bipartisan bill in the House and I am glad to see it signed into law today by President Obama. Congress must continue to send a clear message to our veterans and their loved ones that we stand behind them and will work every day to make good on the promises made to them the day they signed up to defend our country.”

Named in honor of late Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran and noted suicide prevention advocate who committed suicide on March 31, 2011, The SAV Act is another step toward ensuring our nation’s veterans have the support they need. 

Twenty-two veterans commit suicide daily, which is more than 8,000 every year.  Of the more than 2 million Americans who have served in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, it is estimated that one-third – roughly 600,000 women and men – have traumatic brain injury, PTSD or depression. In 2014, more than 1.4 million veterans with a mental health diagnosis enrolled in Veterans Health Administrationservices, which is an increase of 64% from 2005.  This bill will support those veterans by expanding access to and improving the effectiveness of mental health services to help respond to their specific needs.

The SAV Act will take a comprehensive approach to improve mental health services for our veterans.  The bill will establish a peer support and community outreach pilot program to assist transitioning servicemembers with accessing VA mental health care services.  To ease access to services, the bill will require the VA to create a one-stop, interactive website to serve as a centralized source of information regarding all mental health services for veterans.  A student loan repayment pilot program aimed at recruiting and retaining psychiatrists included in the legislation will help address the shortage of mental health care professionals.  To improve care, the legislation will require an annual, third-party evaluation of all mental health care and suicide prevention practices and programs at the VA to find out what’s working and what’s not. 

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