Establishing programs and measures to prevent suicide among veterans and military members.

December 22, 2020

House Bill HB 1181

 

Background

Veterans, service members, and their families continue to be at a higher risk of being affected by suicide.

Life experiences, moral injury, trauma, culture, and pain and physical injuries play a major role in suicidal behavior. Military and veteran culture in particular can include stigma around help-seeking behavior, emphasize conformity to group values at the expense of mental wellness, and facilitate access, comfortability, and familiarity with lethal means such as firearms.

Veterans and Military Service Members in Washington state – by the Numbers

544,290 Veterans

60,699 active duty service members

17,941 guard and reserve service members

2,000,000 military and Veteran family members

Although Veterans make up only 7 percent of the Washington population, they account for 19 percent of all suicides in our state. Nearly 1,000 Veterans have died by suicide in Washington over the last five years.

 

Proposed Changes

This bill proposes the following to support WDVA’s plan:

  • Require health care providers and state agencies (DSHS and DYF) to ask about Veteran and
    military status and make referrals to the VA.
  • Establish a grant program for organizations serving Veterans, including non-profit organizations engaging in peer support.
  • Extend the Safer Homes task force until 2024.
  • Create a Veterans suicide prevention account to fund suicide prevention efforts.
  • Increase protections for Veterans in crisis by providing civil protections for firearm retailers
    who provide temporary storage for firearms.
  • Create a database of mental health, well-being and suicide prevention resources for military
    members, Veterans and their families.
  • Provide on-line WDVA suicide prevention and training information for military members,
    Veterans and their families.

 

Current Status

A public hearing in the House Committee on Housing, Human Services & Veterans took place on January 19.

The bill was referred to the House Appropriations Committee on February 1st.

 

Further Information

Click here for information about  HB 1181.