Bill > HB5270

This bill establishes the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention within the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency to support service members and veterans' mental health. The office will be led by a manager appointed by the agency director, who must have experience in veteran mental health and substance use disorders. The office will collect and report data on veteran mental health issues, including statistics related to post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, substance use disorders, and suicide. The office will create a comprehensive mental health and wellness resource guide that includes a self-assessment tool, mental health resources, contact information for mental health providers, and a symptoms checklist. The manager will serve as a primary point of contact for servicemembers, veterans, and their families, overseeing programs like the transition bridge program and coordinating mental health outreach efforts. The bill includes provisions to protect individual privacy by ensuring collected data does not include personally identifying information. Notably, the bill will only take effect on December 31, 2026, and requires an appropriation of at least $1,000,000 for implementation, as well as the concurrent passage of three related bills.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-5270