To require the Secretary of Defense to conduct a feasibility study and cost estimate for a pilot program that uses predictive analytics and screening to identify mental health risk and provide early, targeted intervention for part-time members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces.

SA 903. Mr. LEAHY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill H.R. 2810, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

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

SEC. 737. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON CONDUCT OF PILOT PROGRAM ON
MENTAL HEALTH READINESS OF PART-TIME MEMBERS OF
THE RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act,

[[Page S5141]]

the Secretary of Defense shall conduct a feasibility study
and cost estimate for a pilot program that uses predictive
analytics and screening to identify mental health risk and
provide early, targeted intervention for part-time members of
the reserve components of the Armed Forces to improve
readiness and mission success.
(b) Elements.--The feasibility study conducted under
subsection (a) shall include elements to assess the following
with respect to the pilot program studied under such
subsection:
(1) The anticipated improvement in quality of behavioral
health services for part-time members of the reserve
components of the Armed Forces and the impact of such
improvement in quality of behavioral health services on their
families and employers.
(2) The anticipated impact on the culture surrounding
behavioral health treatment and help-seeking behavior.
(3) The feasibility of embedding mental health
professionals with units that--
(A) perform core mission sets and capabilities; and
(B) carry out high-risk and high-demand missions.
(4) The particular preventative mental health needs of
units at different states of their operational readiness
cycle.
(5) The need for additional personnel of the Department of
Defense to implement the pilot program.
(6) The cost of implementing the pilot program throughout
the reserve components of the Armed Forces.
(7) The benefits of an integrated operational support team
for the Air National Guard and Army National Guard units.
(c) Comparison to Full-time Members of Reserve
Components.--As part of the feasibility study conducted under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall assess the mental health
risk of part-time members of the reserve components of the
Armed Forces as compared to full-time members of the reserve
components of the Armed Forces.
(d) Use of Existing Models.--In conducting the feasibility
study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall make use of
existing models for preventative mental health care, to the
extent practicable, such as the approach developed by the
United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine.
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