Lamb introduces bill that aims to prevent suicide by veterans Legislation looks at VA's programs
U.S. Reps. Conor Lamb, D-17th, and Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, introduced a bill that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide Congress with information about its Whole Health Program, a component of the VA’s suicide prevention efforts, to ensure all necessary tools are available to veterans for their mental health needs.
The Whole Health Program is vital to the VA’s suicide prevention efforts, but program services are not available at every facility, Lamb said.
The Whole Veteran Act would require the VA to provide Congress with information regarding the accessibility and availability of Whole Health programs including massage, chiropractic services, clinical services and coaching, acupuncture, healing touch, group services, guided imagery, meditation, yoga and other holistic treatments, Lamb said.
“As a nation, we share a deep concern regarding the high rate of veteran suicide across the country,” said Lamb. “Physical, emotional and mental health needs are all interconnected, and it is essential that Whole Health programs and treatments focus on the whole veteran instead of concentrating on an isolated condition. This legislation will help identify the current gaps in availability so the VA, along with Congress, can take the adequate steps to improve the mental health and well-being of all our veterans no matter where they live.”
Ryan said something must be done to help prevent veteran suicides.
“Twenty veterans die by suicide every day in the United States. That’s unacceptable. Some of the wounds our veterans face aren’t always visible, so we need to do a better job of providing them with the mental health resources and tools needed to get on the path to recovery,” said Ryan. “The Whole Veteran Act will advance our efforts to ensure critical Whole Health programs — including chiropractic services, whole health group services, meditation and yoga — are available and accessible at every VA facility. Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country. We owe it to them to provide the care they need when they return home.”
