S.Amdt. 5551

1. Rewrites section 581

   Replaces

   In S. 3001 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   SEC. 581. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLICY ON THE PREVENTION OF SUICIDES BY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

   (a) Policy Required.--Not later than [struck: August][inserted: November] 1, 2009, the Secretary of Defense shall develop a comprehensive policy designed to prevent suicide by members of the Armed Forces.

   (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the policy required by this section shall be as follows:

   (1) To ensure that investigations, analyses, and appropriate data collection can be conducted, across the military departments, on the causes and factors surrounding suicides by members of the Armed Forces.

   (2) To develop effective strategies and policies for the education of members of the Armed Forces [inserted: and their families ]to assist in preventing suicides and suicide attempts by members of the Armed Forces.

   (c) Elements[inserted: Regarding Investigations].--The policy required by [struck: this section][inserted: subsection (b)(1)] shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

   (1) Requirements for investigations and data collection in connection with suicides by members of the Armed Forces.

   (2) A requirement for the appointment by the appropriate military authority of a separate investigating officer to conduct an administrative investigation into each suicide by a member of the Armed Forces in accordance with the requirements specified under paragraph (1).

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   (3) Requirements for minimum information to be determined under each investigation pursuant to paragraph (2), including, but not limited to, the following:

   (A) Any mental illness or other mental health condition, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), of the member of the Armed Forces concerned at the time of the completion of suicide.

   (B) Any other illness or injury of the member at the time of the completion of suicide.

   (C) Any receipt of health care services, including mental health care services, by the member before the completion of suicide.

   (D) Any utilization of prescription drugs by the member before the completion of suicide.

   (E) The number, frequency, and dates of deployment of the member.

   (F) The military duty assignment of the member at the time of the completion of suicide.

   (G) Any observations by family members, health care providers, medical care managers, and other members of the Armed Forces of any symptoms of depression, anxiety, alcohol or drug abuse, or other relevant behavior in the member before the completion of suicide.

   (H) The results of a psychological autopsy of the member, if conducted.

   (4) A requirement for a report from each administrative investigation conducted pursuant to paragraph (2) which shall set forth the findings and recommendations resulting from such investigation.

   (5) Procedures for the protection of the confidentiality of information contained in each report on an investigation pursuant to paragraph (4).

   (6) A requirement that the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel of the military department concerned receive and analyze each report on an investigation pursuant to paragraph (4).

   (7) The appointment by the Secretary of Defense of an appropriate official or executive agent within the Department of Defense to receive and analyze each report on an investigation pursuant to paragraph (4) in order to--

   (A) identify trends or common causal factors in suicides by members of the Armed Forces; and

   (B) advise the Secretary on means by which the suicide education and prevention strategies and programs of the military departments can respond appropriately and effectively to such trends and causal factors.

   (8) A requirement for an annual report to the Secretary of Defense by each Secretary of a military department on the following:

   (A) The results of investigations into suicide by members of the Armed Forces pursuant to paragraph (2) for each calendar year beginning with 2010.

   (B) Actions taken to improve the suicide education and prevention strategies and programs of the military departments.

   Inserted: (C) Total number of suicides among members of the Armed Forces during the period beginning on January 1, 2009, and ending at the end of the most recent calendar year quarter preceding the submittal of such report, including the number of suicides confirmed and the number of deaths being investigated as a suicide, set forth--

   Inserted: (i) by calendar year in which death occurred;

   Inserted: (ii) by military department of the members concerned; and

   Inserted: (iii) by whether death occurred while the members concerned were deployed or while assigned to permanent duty station or homeport.

   (d) Construction of Investigation With Other Investigation Requirements.--The investigation of the suicide by a member of the Armed Forces under the policy required by this section shall be in addition to any other investigation of the suicide required by law, including any investigation for criminal purposes.

   Struck: (e) Report.--Not later than August 1, 2009, the Secretary of the Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report on the policy required by this section. The report shall include--

   Struck: (1) a description of the policy; and

   Struck: (2) a plan for the implementation of the policy throughout the Department of Defense.

   Inserted: (e) Required Reviews.--The policy required by subsection (b)(2) shall be based upon:

   Inserted: (1) A review and evaluation of existing suicide prevention efforts across the military departments, including an assessment of the effectiveness of current efforts and of how such efforts are addressing issues related to combat stress.

   Inserted: (2) A review and evaluation of existing suicide prevention training by each service for members of the Armed Forces (including members of the National Guard and Reserve), for civilian health care community and family support professionals of the Department of Defense, and for such other service personnel of the Department as the Secretary shall designate for purposes of this paragraph.

   Inserted: (f) Report on Suicide Prevention Progress.--Each service secretary shall separately report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives by August 1, 2009, on actions taken to accomplish the following:

   Inserted: (1) Enhancement of basic training courses, including lifesaving courses, for members of the Armed Forces aimed at recognition of risk factors for suicide, identification of signs and symptoms of mental health concerns and combat stress, and protocols for responding to crisis situations involving members of the Armed Forces who may be at high risk for suicide.

   Inserted: (2) Enhancement of training for military supervisory medics and medical personnel on matters relating to recognition of risk factors for suicide, identification of signs and symptoms of mental health concerns and combat stress, and protocols for responding to crisis situations involving members of the Armed Forces who may be at high risk for suicide.

   Inserted: (3) Enhancement of access of military leaders and personnel to resources to prevent and respond to traumatic events, such as members in crisis or loss of unit members, which personnel shall include qualified mental health professionals and may include medical staff, chaplains, family support staff, peers, and other appropriate personnel.

   Inserted: (4) Enhancement of campaigns of outreach throughout the Armed Forces and the military family communities intended to--

   Inserted: (A) reduce the stigma among members of the Armed Forces and their families, and in such communities, associated with mental health concerns;

   Inserted: (B) encourage members of the Armed Forces and individuals in such communities to seek help with such concerns;

   Inserted: (C) increase awareness among members of the Armed Forces and in such communities that mental health is essential to overall health; and

   Inserted: (D) increase awareness among members of the Armed Forces and in such communities regarding substance abuse concerns, relationship and financial difficulties, and legal and occupational difficulties; and

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   Inserted: (5) Enhancement of post-deployment assistance for spouses and parents of returning members including members of the National Guard and Reserve, who are returning from deployment assistance in--

   Inserted: (A) understanding issues that arise in the readjustment of such members--

   Inserted: (i) for members of the National Guard and Reserve, to civilian life; and

   Inserted: (ii) for members of the regular components of the Armed Forces, to military life in a non-combat environment;

   Inserted: (B) identifying signs and symptoms of substance abuse, mental health conditions, traumatic brain injury, and risk factors for suicide; and

   Inserted: (C) encouraging such members and their families in seeking assistance for such conditions and in seeking assistance on relationship, financial, legal, and occupational difficulties.

   Inserted: (g) Suicide Prevention Training.--For purposes of this section, suicide prevention training is comprehensive training on suicide prevention (including, at a minimum, education, training, peer-to-peer support methods, outreach, and de-stigmatization of seeking mental health assistance) developed by the Secretary of Defense and each Secretary concerned for purposes of this section in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

   Inserted: (h) Report on Policy.--Not later than November 1, 2009, the Secretary of the Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report on the policy required by this section. The report shall include the following:

   Inserted: (1) A description of the policy.

   Inserted: (2) A plan for the implementation of the policy throughout the Department of Defense, which plan shall be developed by the Secretary of Defense in consultation with the following:

   Inserted: (A) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

   Inserted: (B) The National Institute of Mental Health.

   Inserted: (C) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services.

   Inserted: (D) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

   Original wording

   Strike section 581 and insert the following:

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As printed