Not Just a Number Act

3/7/2024, 9:08 AM

Not Just a Number Act

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take specified actions related to its suicide prevention services.

Specifically, the bill requires the VA to annually submit a National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report and publish it on a VA website.

The VA must also analyze and report on which benefits and services from the VA have the greatest impact on suicide prevention among veterans.

The VA must collaborate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a toolkit for state and local coroners and medical examiners that contains best practices for accurately identifying and reporting suicide deaths of veterans. The toolkit must be available on a publicly available website, and the VA and CDC must conduct outreach to state and local agencies to promote the availability and use of the toolkit.

The VA must review the findings and recommendations of the Government Accountability Office's management review of the VA's mental health and suicide prevention services and study the feasibility and advisability of creating a suicide prevention office within the VA.

Congress
118

Number
S - 928

Introduced on
2023-03-22

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

3/22/2023

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Not Just a Number Act

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take specified actions related to its suicide prevention services.

Specifically, the bill requires the VA to annually submit a National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report and publish it on a VA website.

The VA must also analyze and report on which benefits and services from the VA have the greatest impact on suicide prevention among veterans.

The VA must collaborate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a toolkit for state and local coroners and medical examiners that contains best practices for accurately identifying and reporting suicide deaths of veterans. The toolkit must be available on a publicly available website, and the VA and CDC must conduct outreach to state and local agencies to promote the availability and use of the toolkit.

The VA must review the findings and recommendations of the Government Accountability Office's management review of the VA's mental health and suicide prevention services and study the feasibility and advisability of creating a suicide prevention office within the VA.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedA bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to prepare an annual report on suicide prevention, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Armed Forces and National Security

Potential Impact
Census and government statistics
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Mental health
Veterans' medical care

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary10/26/2023

Not Just a Number Act

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take specified actions related to its suicide prevention services.

Specifically, the bill requires the VA to annually submit a National Veter...


Latest Action7/12/2023
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.