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Thursday, 14 June 2018 08:52

President Donald J. Trump signs Executive Order to Improve Mental Health Resources for Veterans Transitioning from Active Duty to Civilian Life

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News Releases - Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs

www.va.gov

President Donald J. Trump signs Executive Order to Improve Mental Health Resources for Veterans Transitioning from Active Duty to Civilian Life The Secretaries of Defense, Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will develop a plan to ensure Veterans’ mental health care for the year after ...



Signed by the president in January 2018, the executive order directs VA, the Department of Defense (DOD), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collaborate to provide, to the extent consistent with law, seamless access to mental health care and suicide prevention resources for Veterans, with a focus on the first year after separation from military service.
“This collaborative effort represents a critical first step for ensuring that service members transitioning from active duty to Veteran status understand that VA, DOD and DHS are committed to easing the stress of transition by providing the best mental health care possible,” said Acting VA Secretary Peter O’Rourke. “Transitioning to civilian life is difficult and, ultimately, this effort will make it easier for our Veterans.”

Research<https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/2016suicidedatareport.pdf> has shown that service members in transition to Veteran status are at higher risk of mental health challenges and suicide. The president acted to ensure that new Veterans will receive access to VA mental health care and other services to the extent they are eligible.

Implementation of the Joint Action Plan by the three departments includes 16 important services. Below are three examples:
  *   Expanding peer community outreach and group sessions in the VA Whole Health initiative<https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=4059> from 18 Whole Health Flagship facilities to all facilities. Whole Health<https://www.va.gov/PATIENTCENTEREDCARE/explore/about-whole-health.asp> includes wellness and establishing individual health goals.
  *   Extending DOD’s “Be There Peer Support Call and Outreach Center<https://www.betherepeersupport.org/>” services to provide peer support for Veterans in the year after separation from the uniformed services
  *   Expanding DOD’s Military One Source<http://www.militaryonesource.mil/>, which offers resources to active-duty members, to include support to separating service members up to one year after separation.
The White House will closely monitor the outcomes of the Joint Action Plan.

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Very Respectfully,
Paula A. Paige
Office of Media Relations, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Read 10281 times Last modified on Friday, 22 June 2018 00:44