“To direct the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategic plan to address mental health of members of the Armed Forces.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments and the Director of the Defense Health Agency, to develop a strategic plan to address suicide by members of the Armed Forces and mental health services provided to such members. The plan must include (1) development and enforcement of uniform protocols for (A) regulations on the self-initiated referral process under 10 U.S.C. § 1090b(e)—which allows service members seeking mental health evaluations to bypass command notification—and (B) providing information on the process through workplace posters, flyers, and advertisements; and (2) standardized mental health training for Armed Forces members, including specialized training for commanders, senior enlisted leaders, and medical personnel on identifying and addressing concerns; a certification process based on training completion with documented proof of compliance; responses to self-initiated referrals under § 1090b(e); and recognition of mental health distress signs.