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1 1 (October 11, 2022)

handle is hein.crs/govejcr0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Inforrning the IegsIitive debate since 1914 Updated October 11, 2022 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 2020, the suicide rate for veterans was 57.3% greater than for nonveteran U.S. adults, adjusting for age and sex (see Figure 1), and an average of 16.8 veterans died by suicide per day. Figure I. Veteran and Nonveteran Suicide Rate per 100,000 Population, 2005-2020 (Rates adjusted for age and sex) Rate per 100,000 Age- and Se-A djusted 30 30 Veteran 20 10tr 10 0 o 0 0 0 0 c o I Source: Prepared by CRS using VA 2005-2020 National Suicide Data Appendix accompanying the 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. VA data suggest that use of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) services by specific veteran populations can reduce suicide. VA has named suicide as its top clinical priority for FY2018 to FY2024. As a result, the department has funded and implemented numerous suicide prevention programs largely administered through VHA. Congress has also expressed interest in reducing veteran suicide through appropriations and authorizing legislation. VA Suicide Prevention Appropriations and Obligatdons Generally, V A is funded through annual Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MILCON-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. Mental health care and suicide prevention treatment and outreach are funded through medical services appropriations, specified in MILCON-VA appropriations acts, but a more specific allocation of funds for those services is not typically provided in the statutory text of these acts. Rather, report language accompanying the MILCON-VA appropriations act generally provides specified amounts for mental health care and suicide prevention. Report language accompanying appropriations measures is not considered binding in the same manner as language in statute, but rather explains provisions of a measure and/or communicates legislative intent. In congressional budget submissions, VA provides more granular information about mental health care obligations. Suicide prevention treatment and outreach, respectively, are a subset of mental health care obligations. Table 1 provides obligations-the total sum of funding available-for such activities for FY2020 through FY2023. Table 1. VA Mental Health Care and Suicide Prevention Obligations, FY2020-FY2023 (in millions of dollars) FY22 FY23 FY20 FY21 (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 2.0 Initiative PREVENTS Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program $10,285.5 $11,211.3 $12,250.8 $13,918.9 $1,418.3 $1,932.6 $2,162.6 $2,385.8 $240.8 $297.2 $598.0 $496.6 $111.8 $119.3 $256.0 $256.0 $35.8 $48.5 $42.1 $45.6 $3.9 $6.7 $5.3 $54 $6.1 $4.4 $4.7 $4.8 $0.7 $0.6 $0.8 $0.8 $4.2 $13.7 $66.6 $63.6 $21.3 $0 $43.4 $0 $104.5 $55.7 $0 $55.8

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