Relating to the Mental Health Self-Assessment Program of the Department of Defense.

1. Adds SEC. 730. MENTAL HEALTH SELF-ASSESSMENT PROGRAM at the end of subtitle B of title VII

   Adds a section

   In S. 2766 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (e) Contingency Operation Defined.--In this section, the term "contingency operation" has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(13) of title 10, United States Code.

   Inserted: SEC. 730. MENTAL HEALTH SELF-ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.

   Inserted: (a) Finding.--Congress finds that the Mental Health Self-Assessment Program (MHSAP) of the Department of Defense is vital to the overall health and well-being of deploying members of the Armed Forces and their families because that program provides--

   Inserted: (1) a non-threatening, voluntary, anonymous self-assessment of mental health that is effective in helping detect mental health and substance abuse conditions;

   Inserted: (2) awareness regarding warning signs of such conditions; and

   Inserted: (3) information and outreach to members of the Armed Forces (including members of the National Guard and Reserves) and their families on specific services available for such conditions.

   Inserted: (b) Expansion of Program.--The Secretary of Defense shall, acting through the Office of Health Affairs of the Department of Defense, take appropriate actions to expand the Mental Health Self-Assessment Program in order to achieve the following:

   Inserted: (1) The continuous availability of the assessment under the program to members and former members of the Armed Forces in order to ensure the long-term availability of the diagnostic mechanisms of the assessment to detect mental health conditions that may emerge over time.

   Inserted: (2) The availability of programs and services under the program to address the mental health of dependent children of members of the Armed Forces who have been deployed or mobilized.

   Inserted: (c) Outreach.--The Secretary shall develop and implement a plan to conduct outreach and other appropriate activities to expand and enhance awareness of the Mental Health Self-Assessment Program, and the programs and services available under that program, among members of the Armed Forces (including members of the National Guard and Reserves) and their families.

   Inserted: (d) Reports.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the actions undertaken under this section during the one-year period ending on the date of such report.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle B of title VII, add the following:

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As printed