Problem Solvers Caucus Endorses Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Mental Health Care for Veterans

Press Release

Today, the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus has announced its endorsement of the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act. The VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act would improve suicide and mental health care for veterans by launching the Zero Suicide Initiative Pilot Program at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

In 2019, there was an average of more than 17 U.S. veterans dying from suicide per day at a rate 52.3% higher than non-veterans. 40% of veteran suicides were among active VA patients. For veterans who have served since September 11, 2001, the rate is even more alarming, with 30,117 active-duty service members and veterans dying by suicide, over four times the number of combat deaths over the past two decades. These statistics support the need to pilot alternative intervention methods at VA facilities to improve veteran care, diminish the risk of suicide, and help keep safe those who have made sacrifices to serve and protect.

The VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act would bolster clinical training, assessments, and resources to test the effectiveness of implementing the Zero Suicide Model at five VA centers. This model has proven successful in decreasing suicide rates in other healthcare settings through innovative care pathways.]

Congresswoman Susie Lee and Congressman Tony Gonzales brought the bill to the Caucus for endorsement, which garnered the support of over 75% of the bipartisan Caucus. The bill is supported by several veteran and mental health advocacy organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work (AAPCSW), American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), and Student Veterans of America.

"Just one soldier or veteran lost to suicide is too many. Our nation's veterans deserve the best care after putting their lives on the line to protect the freedoms we hold dear," said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). "These are not red or blue issues -- they are red, white, and blue -- and I'm proud that the members of the Problem Solvers Caucus are continuing to work across the aisle by endorsing the bipartisan VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act to improve veteran safety and suicide care."

"Our veterans put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms, and the very least we can do is provide them with the care they've earned," said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Co-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. "Our bipartisan legislation will take a positive step by establishing the Zero Suicide Initiative Pilot Program and bolstering the mental health care services that our hero veterans receive."

"Veteran suicide is increasing at alarming rates, especially among our youngest veterans. We must leverage all resources available to combat this unfortunate reality, along with valuable stakeholders like the Department of Veterans' Affairs and veteran serving organizations. I am proud to support H.R. 6273, the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act, a sound, bipartisan legislation that offers an option to mitigate this issue by implementing the Zero Suicide Institute curriculum in 5 VA medical centers. The hospitals selected would receive training and support to improve veteran safety and care. I look forward to working with my colleagues to further this initiative and make it available for the veterans and families who need it," said Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón (PR-At Large).

"We must do everything in our power to address the epidemic of veteran suicide in this country. Every day, seventeen veterans take their own lives, and I won't stop fighting until we get that number down to zero. That's why I introduced this legislation to implement a proven system to ensure that no veteran slips through the cracks, based on a commitment to the fact that one suicide is too many. I'm so proud that my bipartisan legislation has earned the endorsement of the Problem Solvers Caucus and passed out of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and I'll keep working to see this legislation signed into law," said Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03), lead House sponsor of the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act.

"Every day in America, we lose seventeen veterans to suicide - and that's seventeen too many," saidCongressman Tony Gonzales(TX-23). "As a veteran, I know firsthand that not all our injuries are physical. I am honored to receive the Problem Solvers Caucus' endorsement for the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Act, which works to build on VA suicide prevention efforts and improves the way our VA system approaches mental health. In addition to this endorsement, I am pleased this legislation was passed by the House Veterans Affairs Committee. I will continue to sustain momentum for House passage before the end of this year."

"Death by suicide of those who have served and are serving is a serious problem. Just two years ago, we were losing 17 veterans to suicide each day, and we continue to lose thousands of our brave men and women to struggles with mental health. I am proud the Problem Solvers Caucus has endorsed the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act, which will help improve support for our veterans. This vital program will work with every resource, from local VA centers to mental health experts at the National Institutes of Health, to design and implement the best possible care for those that have dedicated their lives to protecting our nation -- our veterans," said Congressman Fred Upton (MI-06).

"We have an obligation as a nation to ensure that our veterans get the health care, including mental health care, they need," said Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05). "The suicide rate among veterans is unacceptable. I am proud to work with Republicans and Democrats to advance legislation to support those who sacrificed so much to protect our freedoms and help prevent veteran suicides."

"Providing affordable, accessible and quality mental health resources for our veterans is imperative, especially as veteran suicide rates continue to climb. I am proud to support the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act as we seek to establish a pilot program with the Zero Suicide Institute curriculum to bolster veteran safety and care resources. Utah's First District is home to a thriving veteran community, and I remain committed to supporting programs and initiatives that prioritize their needs well after their time in uniform," said Congressman Blake Moore (UT-01).

"Nearly 18 veterans take their own lives every day," said Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14). "We have the responsibility to reverse that terrible statistic and provide those who have served our country with the care and support they have earned. That's why I'm proud to endorse the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act. We must utilize every tool available to prevent veteran suicides and eliminate the stigma surrounding seeking help within our military and veteran communities. As the son of a World War II veteran, I remain committed to supporting our veterans and ensuring they have access to the assistance and mental health care they need to heal from the invisible wounds of war."

"Our veterans have made the greatest sacrifice to ensure the safety of our nation, and we owe it to them to take care of them for the rest of their lives. Today, service member and veteran suicides are four times as high as combat deaths for those who served in the post-9/11 era. The VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act creates a pilot program based on a proven, innovative, and data-driven approach to address the unacceptably high rate of veteran suicides. We honor our veterans' sacrifices not just with words, but with action. I fully support the efforts to implement this pilot program, and when proven effective, work with the Department of VA to further scale this across the veteran community," said Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (MI-08).

"Each day, we lose around 17 American veterans to suicide. This is unacceptable," said Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-39). "The heroes who served in our nation's uniform deserve the best care and support when they return home. The evidence-based VA Zero Suicide Initiative will build on the VA's suicide prevention efforts and work to expand access to mental health resources. I'm grateful to Reps. Lee and Gonzales for their work on this, and am proud to support them. As a wife and sister to veterans, I am honored to represent more than 27,000 veterans in CA-39 and will keep working hard to ensure we have their backs as they had ours."

The VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act would:

1. Establish the Zero Suicide Initiative pilot program to implement the Zero Suicide Institute curriculum to improve veteran safety and suicide care.
- The Zero Suicide Initiative stems from the Henry Ford Health Care System, built on the belief that all suicides are preventable through proper care, patient safety, and system-wide efforts.
- The model has delivered clear decreases in suicide rates through innovative care pathways to assess and diminish suicide risk for patients across care systems.
2. In consultation with experts and veteran service organizations, the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs would select five medical centers to receive training and support under the pilot program to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Zero Suicide Framework to better combat suicides across the entire VA.
3. The bill does not authorize any spending.

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