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1 1 (July 29, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govedxi0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Veteran Suicide Prevention Background Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. Although suicide rates have increased among the U.S. general population over the past two decades, veterans are disproportionately affected by suicide. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in the period of 2005-2018, suicide rates increased more quickly among veterans compared to nonveteran adults, adjusting for age and sex. In 2018-the most recent year in which national data are available-the suicide rate for veterans was 1.5 times greater than among nonveteran adults (see Figure 1), and an average of 17.6 veterans died by suicideper day. Figure I. Veteran and Nonveteran Suicide Rate per 100,000 Population, 2005-2018 (Rates adjusted forage and sex) 30:- 5.D U 15.4 $ 14.4 5.0 205 24'3 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Veteran Age-and sex-Adjusted Non-Veteran AduR Ag-m dex-Adjuse Source: Prepared by CRS usingVA2005-2018 National Suicide [ata Appendix accompanying the 2020 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. VA data suggest that useof Veterans Health Administration (VHA) services by specific veteranpopulations canreduce suicide. VA has named suicide as its top clinicalpriority for FY2018 to FY2024. As aresult, the department has funded and implemented numerous suicide preventionprograms largely administered through VHA. Congress has also expressed interest in reducing veteran suicide through appropriations and authorizing legislation. VA Suicide Prevention Appropriations and Obligations Generally, VA is funded through annual Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MIILON-VA) appropriations acts. The VA budget is comprised of mandatory and discretionary funding. The medical services account, which includes suicide prevention, is funded solely with discretionary funds. Within the medical services account, mentalhealth care and suicide prevention treatment and outreach are funded through medical services appropriations. Such medical services appropriations are specified in MILCON-VA appropriations acts,butamore specific allocation of funds for thoseservices is nottypically provided in the statutory text of these acts. Rather, reportlanguage accompanying the MILCON-VA appropriations act generally provides specified amounts for mentalhealth care and suicide prevention. For example, in FY2021, Congress provided $10.3 billion for mentalhealth care. Of that amount, $1.9 billion was for suicide prevention treatment and $312.6 million was for suicide prevention outreach (H.Rept. 116- 445, p. 46). Report language accompanying appropriations measures is notconsideredbinding in the s ame manner as language in statute, but rather explains provisions of a measure and/or communicates legislative intent. In congressionalbudget submissions, VA provides more granular information about mentalhealth care obligations. Suicide prevention treatment and outreach, respectively, aie a subset of mentalhealthcare obligations. Table 1 provides obligations-the totals umof funding available-for such activities for FY2019 throughFY2022. Table I. VA Mental Health Care and Suicide Prevention Obligations, FY20 19-FY2022 (In millions of dollars) FY21 FY22 FY 19 FY20 (est.) (req.) Mental Health Care Suicide Prevention Treatment Suicide Prevention Outreach Veterans Crisis Line National Suicide Prevention Strategy Implementation Centers of Excellence Demonstration Projects Local Facility and Community Outreach Activities Suicide Prevention Coordinators and Teams $8,949.0 $10,285.5 $11,998.9 $13,541.4 $1,422.2 $1,418.3 $1,553.0 $1,741.3 $206.5 $240.8 $31 1.4 $598.0 $107.3 $1 1 1.8 $1 13.9 $256.0 $35.2 $35.8 $41.3 $42.1 $5.5 $5.2 $1.6 $3.9 $6.1 $0.7 $5.6 $5.8 $0.8 $5.3 $4.7 $0.8 $51.7 $57.0 $59.3 $62.3 https://crsrept S July 29, 2021

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