Representative Julia Brownley introduced H.R. 2915, the Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act. If enacted, this bill would identify mental health and suicide prevention programs that are the most effective with the best outcomes among women veterans at risk. The bill would require VA to report the results of this analysis to the Congressional Veterans’ Committees.

Recent data reveals the suicide rate of women veterans is nearly six times higher than women in general; for women ages 18-29, the risk is even higher, at nearly 12 times the rate of women in general. These findings have prompted clinicians and policy makers at VA to develop a number of outreach initiatives and clinical approaches to enable VA to better deal with this health care crisis.

VA experts are examining the many reasons suicide rates among women veterans are higher. According to VA’s suicide prevention office, a history of military sexual assault may be a major contributing factor.

Enactment of Mrs. Brownley’s bill would improve VA’s evaluative efforts in this challenging area.

Please write your Representative today to urge co-sponsorship and passage of H.R. 2915. As always, thank you for your active participation in the Commander’s Action Network.

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