Chairman Takano’s Statement on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ 2022 Annual Suicide Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today,  House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Annual Suicide Report:

“VA's annual suicide report contains encouraging news about another drop in the veteran suicide rate, but our work to reduce veteran suicide cannot, and will not, stop until all veterans receive the care, benefits, and opportunities to thrive that they have earned and deserve,” said Chairman Takano. “This Congress, the Committee built upon the successes of previous veteran suicide prevention bills – including the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Improvement Act and my Veterans COMPACT Act – by passing my STRONG Veterans Act out of the House and the signing into law of the Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act. As I said last week, we will hold a full committee hearing on September 29 focused on suicide prevention where we will hear from VA about this year’s report and ongoing efforts, along with organizations receiving VA’s new community partner suicide prevention grants. I look forward to this hearing and to continuing to work with VA and the Biden-Harris Administration to help veterans in crisis.”

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive free, confidential support and crisis intervention available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call 988 and Press 1 or chat online at http://VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.

 
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