Bill > S3139

This bill directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Zero Suicide Initiative pilot program, a comprehensive suicide prevention effort aimed at reducing veteran suicide rates. The program will be implemented at five VA medical centers over five years, with one site specifically serving rural veterans. During the first year, the VA will develop the program by consulting with various experts and organizations, including the Zero Suicide Institute, National Institutes of Health, and veterans service organizations. Staff leaders from each site will undergo extensive training, including a two-day Zero Suicide Academy, and will be responsible for implementing new suicide care approaches, such as improved screening, assessment, risk management, and care transition processes. The program requires annual progress reports to congressional veterans' affairs committees, detailing metrics like suicide screening rates, patient referrals, and suicide-related outcomes. The initiative will collect and compare data across program sites to evaluate its effectiveness, with the potential to be extended for up to two additional years or potentially made permanent based on the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' assessment of its impact on veteran suicide prevention.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3139/all-info