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Updated October 11, 2022
Veteran Suicide Prevention
Background
measures is not considered binding in the same manner as
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United
language in statute, but rather explains provisions of a
States. Although suicide rates have increased among the
measure and/or communicates legislative intent.
U.S. general population over the past two decades, veterans
are disproportionately affected by suicide. According to the
In congressional budget submissions, VA provides more
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in 2020, the
granular information about mental health care obligations.
suicide rate for veterans was 57.3% greater than for non-
Suicide prevention treatment and outreach, respectively, are
veteran U.S. adults, adjusting for age and sex (see Figure
a subset of mental health care obligations. Table 1 provides
1), and an average of 16.8 veterans died by suicide per day.
obligations—the total sum of funding available—for such
activities for FY2020 through FY2023.
Figure 1. Veteran and Nonveteran Suicide Rate per
100,000 Population, 2005–2020
Table 1. VA Mental Health Care and Suicide
(Rates adjusted for age and sex)
Prevention Obligations, FY2020-FY2023
(in millions of dollars)
Rate per 100,000
Age- and Sex-Adjusted
FY22
FY23
30
FY20
FY21
(est.)
(req.)
Veteran
20
Mental Health $10,285.5 $11,211.3 $12,250.8 $13,918.9
Care
Non-Veteran
10
Suicide
$1,418.3 $1,932.6 $2,162.6 $2,385.8
Prevention
0
Treatment
Suicide
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
$240.8
$297.2
$598.0
$496.6
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
Prevention
Outreach
Source: Prepared by CRS using VA 2005-2020 National Suicide Data
Veterans Crisis
Appendix accompanying the 2022 National Veteran Suicide
$111.8
$119.3
$256.0
$256.0
Prevention Annual Report.
Line
National
$35.8
$48.5
$42.1
$45.6
VA data suggest that use of Veterans Health Administration
Suicide
(VHA) services by specific veteran populations can reduce
Prevention
suicide. VA has named suicide as its top clinical priority for
Strategy
FY2018 to FY2024. As a result, the department has funded
Implementation
and implemented numerous suicide prevention programs
Centers of
$3.9
$6.7
$5.3
$5.4
largely administered through VHA. Congress has also
Excellence
expressed interest in reducing veteran suicide through
Demonstration
appropriations and authorizing legislation.
$6.1
$4.4
$4.7
$4.8
Projects
VA Suicide Prevention Appropriations
Local Facility
$0.7
$0.6
$0.8
$0.8
and Obligations
and Community
Outreach
Generally, VA is funded through annual Military
Activities
Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Suicide
(MILCON-VA) appropriations acts. The VA budget is
$4.2
$13.7
$66.6
$63.6
Prevention 2.0
comprised of mandatory and discretionary funding. The
Initiative
medical services account, which includes suicide
prevention, is funded solely with discretionary funds.
PREVENTS
$21.3
$43.4
$104.5
$0
Mental health care and suicide prevention treatment and
Staff Sergeant
$0
$0
$55.7
$55.8
outreach are funded through medical services
Parker Gordon
appropriations, specified in MILCON-VA appropriations
Fox Suicide
acts, but a more specific allocation of funds for those
Prevention
services is not typically provided in the statutory text of
Grant Program
these acts. Rather, report language accompanying the
MILCON-VA appropriations act generally provides
specified amounts for mental health care and suicide
prevention. Report language accompanying appropriations
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Veteran Suicide Prevention
FY22
FY23
which veterans may be at highest risk for suicide or other
FY20
FY21
(est.)
(req.)
related adverse outcomes. Using a statistical algorithm,
REACH VET analyzes existing data (e.g., use of VHA
Suicide
$57.0
$60.4
$62.3
$64.7
services) to identify veterans at the highest suicide risk in
Prevention
the next month.
Coordinators
and Teams
Congressional Activity and Legislation
Previous Congresses have passed several bills to address
Source: Prepared by CRS based on FY21-FY22 VA Congressional
veteran suicide. Significant pieces of legislation enacted
Budget Submissions, Volume II.
into law during the 110th-117th Congresses are highlighted
Notes: PREVENTS = The President’s Roadmap to Empower
below, focusing on key provisions of those acts. In general,
Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide. Actual obligations
these laws have increased VHA’s offering of suicide
are provided for FY20-FY21. Estimated obligations based on
appropriated funding are provided for FY22 and obligations based on
prevention services, as well as oversight of such services.
requested funding are provided for FY23. Suicide prevention
treatment and outreach are not intended to add to the mental health
Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care,
care total, as mental health care encompasses other activities not
and Treatment (COMPACT) Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-214).
listed in the table. Suicide prevention outreach activities may not add
A significant provision in this bill is the authorization of
to the suicide prevention outreach total due to rounding.
VA to provide emergent suicide care to eligible veterans
without requiring payment. This new requirement expands
Selected VA Suicide Prevention
upon existing VHA policy that allowed for emergent mental
Outreach Programs
health care; such care was limited to certain individuals and
Suicide prevention outreach focuses on all at-risk veterans,
may have required payment under some circumstances.
including those who are not eligible, enrolled, or currently
receiving VHA services. Selected VA programs
Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental
(https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/
Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 (Hannon Act;
index.asp) are described in further detail below.
P.L. 116-171). A significant provision in this bill is the
authorization of the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox
National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide
Suicide Prevention Grant Program that requires VA to
The National Strategy is VA’s 10-year strategic plan (2018-
award grants to certain community-based organizations to
2028) for reducing veteran suicide that guides VA’s suicide
provide veteran suicide prevention services.
prevention efforts (see https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/
suicide_prevention/docs/Office-of-Mental-Health-and-
Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans
Suicide-Prevention-National-Strategy-for-Preventing-
(SAV) Act (P.L. 114-2). Among other things, this required
Veterans-Suicide.pdf). The plan identifies 14 goals within 4
VA to arrange for independent, annual evaluations of VHA
strategic directions. To address these goals, the plan
mental health care and suicide prevention programs and to
discusses, among other things, implementation of
undertake a pilot program to repay the education loans of
interventions to reach all veterans.
eligible psychiatrists (or certain psychiatric residents) in
exchange for additional obligated service.
Veterans Crisis Line (VCL)
The VCL is a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, and
Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act (P.L.
text messaging service that provides 24/7 crisis intervention
110-110). This bill amended Title 38 of the U.S. code by
services. Launched in 2007, it is free and available to all
adding a new Section 1720F, a comprehensive program for
veterans, including those not enrolled in VHA services. The
suicide prevention among veterans. Among other things,
VCL can be accessed through the national 988 Suicide &
the program must include an SPC at each VAMC and a toll-
Crisis Lifeline, which transitioned to the 3-digit 9-8-8
free hotline (“Veterans Crisis Line”).
number in July 2022. As of May 2022, the VCL responded
to more than 6.2 million calls, 739,000 chats, 253,000 texts,
Many continue to express concern over seemingly limited
and has referred more than 1.1 million veterans to suicide
progress made to date to reduce veteran suicide. During the
prevention coordinators.
117th Congress, implementation and congressional
oversight of the Veterans COMPACT Act and the Hannon
Suicide Prevention Coordinators (SPCs)
Act may inform future legislative efforts (for more
SPCs are VHA employees who coordinate care for veterans
information, see CRS Report R46848, Commander John
at high risk for suicide who are receiving care within VHA.
Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement
SPCs can be assigned referrals from the VCL to ensure care
Act of 2019 (P.L. 116-171) and Veterans COMPACT Act of
continuity with a veteran’s local VHA provider. As of June
2020 (P.L. 116-214)).
2020, VA employed approximately 540 SPCs, at 135
medical facilities.
Michele L. Malloy, Research Librarian
Recovery Engagement and Coordination for
IF11886
Health—Veterans Enhanced Treatment
(REACH VET)
REACH VET was launched across VA Medical Centers
(VAMCs) in April 2017 and is used within VHA to predict
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Veteran Suicide Prevention
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
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