WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last Saturday, a bill introduced by Representatives Steve Stivers (R-OH) and Andy Levin (D-MI) was signed into law as part of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, a comprehensive mental health care reform bill to support veterans.  Their bipartisan bill, the VA Emergency Department Safety Planning Act, will help ensure emergency room personnel are effectively implementing safety plans and follow-ups for veterans deemed to be at risk of suicidal behavior.

The Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act is a landmark bill to ramp up efforts from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) mental health workforce.  Specifically, this will provide veterans more access to mental health care by increasing telehealth services and will empower collaboration among the VA and community organizations to more quickly identify veterans at-risk of suicide so that professionals can intervene with preventative services earlier.  Further, this bill will implement a pilot program to provide veterans access to free health programs including animal therapy, sports and recreation therapy, and art therapy.

“We know that upwards of 30 percent of veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress, depending on the conflict era, which is why we need common sense policies like the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act,” Stivers said. “Thanks to Representative Levin, and all who worked on the provisions included in this legislation, including ensuring at-risk veterans receive the follow-ups and outpatient mental health care they need.”

“I applaud the signing of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act into law,” said Levin. “Lingering mental health issues are a significant obstacle for servicemen and women returning home and reintegrating into society. By improving reporting on the Safety Planning in Emergency Departments program, this bill ensures that combating veteran suicide remains a central focus for policy makers and VA health care providers.”

The VA Emergency Department Safety Planning Act builds on a 2018 program under the Veterans Health Administration, proven to curb the suicide epidemic facing American veterans.  This bill requires detailed reporting on the Safety Planning in Emergency Departments (SPED), specifically to indicate areas for improvement within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or potential legislative changes needed to improve program performance.

Under the SPED program, clinicians and other relevant personnel develop a safety plan for at-risk veterans and follow up with them after they are discharged from the emergency department in order to facilitate outpatient mental health care. 

According to a 2018 study in JAMA Psychiatry, that intervention conducted by emergency room staff reduces the odds of suicidal behavior by half.  The U.S. loses approximately 17 veterans per day to suicide, based on the latest data available from the VA.

To read the full VA Emergency Department Safety Planning Act, click here.

The Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act can be found here.

-30-