United States Congress

Congress passes Veteran mental health and suicide prevention bills COMPACT Act

Sharing is Caring

The evening before Veterans Day, the Senate passed more legislation aimed at improving mental health care and services for Veterans and Troops, sending them to the President’s desk for final approval.

The package of bills, the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care and Treatment (COMPACT) Act includes nine parts intended to help prevent Veteran Suicides. 

Specifically, the COMPACT Act would:

  • Provide free crisis care for any Veteran with emergency suicide symptoms;
  • Create a pilot program between VA and designated family or friends of Veterans to share information on benefits and assistance;
  • Require an annual report on VA’s Solid Start program;
  • Establish an education program for Veteran families and caregivers on mental health concerns;
  • Create an inter agency task force on outdoor recreation for Veterans;
  • Establish a policy where Veterans who have not had contact with VA in two or more years are encouraged to come in for an exam to continue eligibility for emergency care not linked to their service-connected disabilities; 
  • Require annual VA police de-escalation and crisis intervention training;
  • Require a study of VA programs providing assistance to women Veterans who are homeless;
  • Provide a report on locations where women Veterans are using VA health care.

The package of bills that became the COMPACT Act was part of an agreement between House and Senate Veterans Affairs leaders to pass major veteran mental health and suicide prevention legislation before the end of the year and the end of this Congressional session.

pet supplements for dogs and cats 300 x 250