According to recent reports, US soldier suicide rates are up for the fifth consecutive year. Many of us in the mental health arena have long belabored this horrifying trend and all the “reasons why.”  I will not do this today. Suffice it to say, we have endangered the mental health and long term well-being of a group of people willing to sacrifice all for our great nation. They deserve greatness from us, from their country, from their government. We must do better.

Gabrielle Giffords, my local congresswoman, is one of the most responsive and accessible politicians in Washington today. She listens to constituents and is accountable to them. Because I’ve communicated with her office on numerous synopsis (below) of legislation the congresswoman either sponsored or supported. I’m grateful that some of our leaders are listening and responding to this crisis.

Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act (H.R. 327): Requires the Veterans Administration (VA) to develop and implement a comprehensive veterans’ suicide prevention program, requires the VA to provide 24-hour mental health care services to veterans, and requires that a suicide prevention counselor be available at every VA facility.

Wounded Warrior Assistance Act (H.R. 1538): Legislation that would improve the management of medical care, personnel actions and quality of life issues for members of the Armed Forces who are receiving medical care. Offered an amendment to this bill that would increase the reporting requirement on mental health services for returning combat veterans.

Traumatic Brain Injury Health Enhancement and Long Term Care Act (H.R. 2199): Ensures that our veterans are properly screened for Traumatic Brain Injury (the signature injury of troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan) and receive prompt treatment.

The New GI Bill (H.R. 2642): Updated the Montgomery G.I. Bill by guaranteeing a full scholarship to any in-state public university along with a housing stipend.

Veterans Health Care Improvement Act (H.R. 2874): Allows low-income veterans access to successful readjustment programs in their communities such as transportation and housing assistance.

Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (H.R. 6331): Ensures active-duty military personnel and military retirees access to the doctors they know and trust in TRICARE.

Additional legislation for which Gabrielle Giffords is a cosponsor:

Combat-Related Special Compensation Act (H.R. 89): Provides concurrent receipt of retired pay and disability compensation to medically retired veterans (less than 20 years service).

Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act (H.R. 579): Prohibits a fee or co-pay for retirees and service members receiving TRICARE health services.

Retired Pay for Reservists (H.R. 690): Reduces the minimum age for retired Guardsmen and Reservists to begin receiving retired pay from 60 to 55.

Military Retirees Pre-Tax Health Insurance Premiums (H.R. 1110): Permits Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pre-tax basis.

Wounded Warrior Information Sharing Act (H.R. 3191): Ensures service members’ addresses and contact information is transmitted with their consent to the department or agency for veterans affairs of the state to which the member intends to reside.

Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act (H.R. 3793): Ensures that wounded veterans will not lose their enlistment bonuses if they are discharged from the military for medical reasons prior to fulfilling their service obligation.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 at 9:27 am and is filed under Bipolar Disorder, Depression, In The News, Mental Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.