Improving Access to Mental Health Services for Veterans & Families
Sep 5, 2012
Signed by: Barack Obama
Signed on: Aug 31, 2012
Published on: Sep 5, 2012
Sep 5, 2012
Signed by: Barack Obama
Signed on: Aug 31, 2012
Published on: Sep 5, 2012
Summary
Makes it easier for veterans, service members, and their families to get help for mental health problems and prevent suicide.
What problem does this solve?
After long wars, many service members and veterans need mental health support, but getting help can be difficult. This order directs government agencies to expand suicide prevention, hire more staff, and research better treatments to meet this need.
What does this order do?
Expands the Veterans Crisis Line
Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase the capacity of the Veterans Crisis Line by 50 percent. Ensures any veteran in crisis connects with a mental health professional within 24 hours.
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Expanded department of veterans affairs mental health services staffing
Increases mental health staffing
Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to hire 1,600 new mental health professionals and 800 peer-to-peer counselors to support veterans.
Launches a national suicide prevention campaign
Orders the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense to create a year-long national campaign to encourage service members and veterans to seek mental health care.
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Enhanced partnerships between the department of veterans affairs and community
Creates partnerships with community providers
Establishes at least 15 pilot projects where the Department of Veterans Affairs will work with community-based mental health providers to serve veterans, especially in areas with long wait times.
Improves research on PTSD and TBI
Creates a National Research Action Plan to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
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Military and veterans mental health interagency task force
Establishes an interagency task force
Creates the Military and Veterans Mental Health Interagency Task Force to coordinate efforts across government agencies and make recommendations to the President.
Who does this affect?
- Veterans
- Service Members
- Military Families
What is the real world impact?
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Addresses a growing mental health crisis
Responds to the increasing need for mental health services for service members and veterans who have served in conflicts since September 11, 2001. Aims to build a better support network for them and their families.
When does this start?
This order sets several deadlines for different actions to improve mental health services for military members and veterans.
National suicide prevention campaign launch
The campaign must begin on September 1, 2012.
Veterans Crisis Line expansion
The line's capacity must be increased by 50 percent by December 31, 2012.
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Enhanced partnerships between the department of veterans affairs and community
Community provider pilot projects
At least 15 pilot projects must be established within 180 days of the order (by late February 2013).
National Research Action Plan
The plan must be established within 8 months of the order (by late April 2013).
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Expanded department of veterans affairs mental health services staffing
Hiring of mental health professionals
The Department of Veterans Affairs must hire 1,600 mental health professionals by June 30, 2013.
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Expanded department of veterans affairs mental health services staffing
Hiring of peer-to-peer counselors
The Department of Veterans Affairs must hire and train 800 peer counselors by December 31, 2013.
Review of DoD mental health programs
The Department of Defense must realign resources to the most effective programs by the end of Fiscal Year 2014.