Mental health conditions are common in the United States. In 2018, VA reported more than 1.7 million Veterans received treatment in a VA mental health program.

The STRONG Veterans Act was signed into law in December 2022 and addresses mental health care provided by VA. It contains 27 sections requiring VA to work collaboratively with the Indian Health Service and other partners to begin implementing the plan with a finalization date of December 2030.

The STRONG Veterans Act highlights existing efforts and propels VA to take further action to strengthen mental health and suicide prevention programs. It supports Veterans’ mental health and well-being through increased training, outreach, mental health care delivery and research.

A VA top clinical priority

The new law aligns with VA’s top clinical priority of preventing Veteran suicide and connecting Veterans with the soonest and best care. VA is expanding its culturally competent mental health and suicide prevention services to traditionally underserved Veterans while increasing staffing across mental health disciplines.

The STRONG Veterans Act reinforces existing culturally competent mental health outreach and suicide prevention efforts for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans and Veterans in rural, remote and underserved communities. Implementation of enhanced training, quality management, pilot programs and research further bolster the Veterans Crisis Line and improves program outcomes, targeting Veterans at high-risk of suicide or substance use and overdose risk.

The Act promotes VA’s priority to recruit and retain a competitive workforce by offering enhanced training, scholarships, loan repayments and paid trainee opportunities.

Strengthening VA’s crisis response system

By delivering effective treatments, equipping VA’s workforce to provide the best care and further strengthening VA’s crisis response system, the STRONG Veterans Act bolsters VA’s efforts to support Veterans’ mental health and ensure equal access to VA’s life-saving resources.

VA urges anyone with thoughts of suicide or knows someone having thoughts of suicide to contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive free, confidential support and crisis intervention. The VCL is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call 988, Press 1, text to 838255, or chat online at http://VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.

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2 Comments

  1. Miller May 6, 2023 at 16:12

    B S! Take a look at Sandpoint ID

  2. Timothy Strong May 3, 2023 at 23:29

    if i may suggest changing the message given to veterans calling the 800 827 1000 number.
    it asks if you are considering suicide and that is upfront in your face and wrong.
    are you having thoughts of suicide is a trigger and should NEVER be communicated as such.
    i suggest you use the message i encouraged the VA Manila to say instead ” are you having thoughts of harming yourself”.
    are you having thoughts of harming yourself is a much softer approach and certainly non-triggering.
    please consider
    timothy

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