Washington D.C. —On November 17, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. ET, U.S. Representative Stephen F. Lynch, Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, will hold a hearing to examine how the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and community organizations are working to strengthen mental health and curb the alarming rate of suicides among our nation’s military servicemembers and veterans. The hearing will demonstrate the need for a holistic approach to suicide prevention and will also highlight the importance of supporting military families after the loss of a loved one.
Despite high-level attention from DOD and the VA across multiple administrations, suicide deaths among post-9/11 servicemembers and veterans have outpaced combat deaths. On average, more than 6,300 veterans have died by suicide annually since 2001 and hundreds of active duty, National Guard, and Reserve servicemembers die by suicide each year, according to data collected by the VA and DOD.
This crisis has profound implications for U.S. national security, as well as the health, morale, and well-being of our nation’s servicemembers, veterans, and their families. President Biden’s new strategy for “Reducing Military and Veteran Suicide” offers a comprehensive roadmap for improving mental health and suicide prevention efforts by strengthening community engagement, reducing barriers to care, expanding lethal means safety education, and addressing “upstream risk” factors that may tragically contribute to suicide.
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WHAT: |
Subcommittee on National Security hearing entitled “Invisible Wounds: Preventing Suicide in Our Nation’s Military and Veteran Communities" |
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WHEN: |
Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. ET |
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WHO: |
Alyssa Hundrup, Director, Health Care - Government Accountability Office Brigadier General (ret.) Jack Hammond, Executive Director - Home Base Dr. Carla Stumpf-Patton, Senior Director, Postvention Programs - Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors Additional Witness to be confirmed |
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WATCH: |
A livestream will be available on YouTube and the Committee on Oversight and Reform website. |
SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES
There are specially trained responders ready to help servicemembers and veterans 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Servicemembers and veterans can:
- Dial 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to talk to someone;
- Send a text message to 838255 to connect with a VA responder;
- Start a confidential online chat session at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available 24/7 for anyone at 800-273-8255.