Westmoreland Review

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) and Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Rob Wittman (R-VA), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) introduced H.R. 3011, the Servicemembers Mental Health Improvement Act. This legislation would establish a mental health task force within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to develop and provide recommendations for a comprehensive strategy to tackle mental health issues across the U.S. military. 

Reschenthaler and Kilmer are co-chairs of the Military Mental Health Task Force for the 118th Congress.

“As the co-chair of the Military Mental Health Task Force and a Navy veteran, I am proud to introduce the Servicemember's Mental Health Improvement Act, which would establish a mental health task force at the Department of Defense,” said Reschenthaler. “This bipartisan legislation is critical to developing solutions that alleviate the mental health crisis plaguing our servicemembers and their families. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill signed into law.”

“In one of my meetings with a military leader, I asked him what kept him up at night,” said Kilmer. “He didn’t say ‘budget cuts,’ or ‘terrorists.’ Rather, he told me, ‘The thing that keeps me up most is mental health. I’ve lost more soldiers to suicide than I have to enemy combatants.’ That’s got to change. Creating a Mental Health Task Force within the Defense Department will improve overall health within the Department and ensure that Congress is well equipped with data to act on behalf of those who serve.”

“Our servicemembers make incredible sacrifices for our nation, and they deserve our unwavering support in addressing the challenges they face on and off the battlefield,” said Wittman. “Ensuring the psychological health of our warfighters and access to proper mental health treatments and services must be a top priority for Congress. I’m proud to introduce this important bill with Congressman Kilmer to establish a Mental Health Task Force at the Department of Defense to provide the mental health care our servicemembers and their families deserve.”

“We all recognize the immense stress our uniformed men and women endure in service. It is essential to support strengthening our mental health care and suicide prevention efforts for them. However, for too long we have seemingly required report after report, study after study, on the matter without really delivering any tangible or long-term action. This has left the services to develop their own solutions, often resulting in unsynchronized and disparate efforts. The last comprehensive study and review of resilience programs was conducted over a decade ago. It is past time to refocus our efforts to provide a clear, evidence-based path forward for our military members,” said Houlahan. “This bill is a step toward ensuring a cohesive, coordinated effort to increase awareness, training, and access to mental health programs. It’s an affirmation of our commitment to care for and about our servicemembers both during their military career and after they have transitioned to civilian life.”

From 2016 to 2020, the DoD reported 456,293 active duty servicemembers were diagnosed with mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and PTSD. Servicemembers are five times more likely to suffer from major depression, six times more likely to experience intense anger, and 15 times more likely to endure post-traumatic stress disorder compared to civilians. These disorders account for the highest number of hospital stays and rank as the second most common reason for outpatient visits among servicemembers.

The Servicemembers Mental Health Improvement Act is endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, AMSUS, the Society of Federal Health Professionals, the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, the Fleet Reserve Association, the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., K9s For Warriors, Military Officers Association of America, National Alliance on Mental Illness, the National Guard Association of the United States, National Military Family Association, Service Women’s Action Network, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Wounded Warrior Project.

Read the full text of the bill here.

Original source can be found here.