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1 1 (June 28, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/govepqe0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informing th~ Ieg~sIitive debate since 1914 Updated June 28, 2024 Veteran Suicide Prevention Background Suicide was the 13th leading cause of death in the United States among veterans in 2021, the most recent reporting year. Although suicide rates have increased among the U.S. general population over the past two decades, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), veterans are disproportionately affected by suicide. Based on VA data, in 2021, the suicide rate for veterans was 71.8% greater than for nonveteran U.S. adults, adjusting for age and sex (see Figure 1), and an average of 17.5 veterans died by suicide per day. Figure I. Veteran and Nonveteran Suicide Rate per I 00,000 Population, 2006-202 I (Rates adjusted for age and sex) 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 FY2022 through FY2025. Table I. VA Mental Health Care and Suicide Prevention Obligations, FY2022-FY2025 (in millions of dollars) Age- and Sex-Adjusted 30 Veteran 20 10 0 Lo o W 01 0 -0 N M 0 0n W 0 W 0 00 n~jrJr4 rN r N N' N~ NJ Nj N~ N4 (N NN Source: Prepared by CRS using VA 2006-2021 National Suicide Data Appendix accompanying the 2023 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 Oblgations Generally, VA 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 FY2024 FY2025 FY2022 FY2023 (est.) (req.) Mental Health $13,017.7 $14,423.5 $15,968.8 $17,053.7 Care Suicide Prevention Treatment Suicide Prevention Outreach Veterans Crisis Line National Suicide Prevention Strategy Implementation Governors Challenge Program Centers of Excellence Demonstration Projects Local Facility and Community Outreach Activities Suicide Prevention 2.0 Initiative PREVENTS Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon (SSG) Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program $2,152.7 $2,414.6 $2,544.8 $2,667.7 $522.8 $517.0 $571.0 $582.6 $169.7 $230.4 $300.5 $306.7 $193.5 $47.5 $46.8 $48.8 $0 $0 $10.0 $10.0 $9.9 $9.0 $6.0 $6.0 $7.0 $11.7 $7.7 $7.7 $0.6 $0.7 $0.8 $0.8 $41.8 $77.0 $58.2 $58.9 $29.5 $4.2 $21 $0 $57.3 $55.6 $0 $54.8 Rate per 100,000

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