Advocates for comprehensive mental health support for veterans and combating veteran suicide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 25, 2021
CONTACT: press@iava.org

New York, NY – As part of their week-long annual Fly-In event, Tom Porter, IAVA Executive VP of Government Affairs, testified before the US Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on March 24, regarding combating veteran suicide and providing mental health support for veterans.

Chiefly, he called on Congress to exercise strong oversight to ensure proper and speedy implementation of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, comprehensive legislation to address the crisis.

On an average, 20 veterans and servicemembers die by suicide every day. Additionally, IAVA’s own research has found that 59 percent of members know a veteran that took their own life. Through its flagship program, the Quick Reaction Force (QRF), IAVA has been providing free services to any veteran in need. It offers 24/7 confidential peer-to-peer support, comprehensive care management and resource connections for veterans and their families.

“The [mental health] needs of veterans remain high, particularly in light of the pandemic, and in 2020, QRF saw a 400 percent increase in clients served from 2019,” Porter testified. “QRF is built to address all aspects of a veteran’s life [that] are in need of intervention and support… In 2020 more than 15 percent of all requests were mental health-related.”

IAVA has made addressing veteran suicide and advocating for access to mental health support a top priority for over a decade. IAVA has worked alongside legislators to pass the bipartisan Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, which takes into consideration the various sources of mental stress for veterans including PTSD, unemployment, homelessness, other economic conditions, and more. 

 In 2021 and beyond, IAVA will continue to advocate for the VA as well as other relevant government agencies to advance the fight against rising veteran suicide rates. Learn more about IAVA’s work on mental health and suicide prevention here.

Porter also called on lawmakers to implement the most comprehensive veteran suicide bill passed to date. “The Hannon Act will have long lasting effects and veterans need those provisions today. So we ask for your oversight in ensuring quick implementation,” he said.

IAVA is the voice for the post-9/11 veteran generation. With over 400,000 veterans and allies nationwide, IAVA is the leader in non-partisan veteran advocacy and public awareness. We drive historic impacts for veterans and IAVA’s programs are second to none. Any veteran or family member in need can reach out to IAVA’s Quick Reaction Force at quickreactionforce.org or 855-91RAPID (855-917-2743) to be connected promptly with a veteran care manager who will assist. IAVA’s The Vote Hub is a free tool to register to vote and find polling information. IAVA’s membership is always growing. Join the movement at iava.org/membership.

###