Joint Congressional Hearing on Military and Veteran Suicide Prevention
January 1, 2021
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
The Frame
This hearing establishes the legislative focus on addressing the suicide epidemic within the military, which saw 321 active-duty and 144 suicides in 2018, impacting federal mental health policy and service member access to care.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Active-duty service members
They are the primary subjects of the mental health policies and suicide prevention programs discussed.
Military families
They are impacted by the loss of service members and the availability of support systems for their loved ones.
Department of Defense
The agency is responsible for implementing force resiliency and mental health programs for active-duty personnel.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2021.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- In 2018, there were 321 active-duty suicides and 144 reserve component suicides.
- The 2018 suicide rate represents the highest number of military suicides since 2012.
- An estimated 20 service members and veterans combined commit suicide per day.
- The hearing was a joint session between the Subcommittee on Military Personnel and the Subcommittee on Health.
- The hearing took place on May 21, 2019, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
- The session included testimony from officials representing the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.
Why It Matters
This hearing establishes the legislative focus on addressing the suicide epidemic within the military, which saw 321 active-duty and 144 suicides in 2018, impacting federal mental health policy and service member access to care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the House hold a joint hearing on this topic?
What was the primary concern raised by the committee chair?
News Coverage
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Joint Agency Coordination
The decision to hold a joint hearing between the Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs committees indicates a shift toward treating military suicide as a continuous issue spanning from active service into veteran life.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance90How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools