Suicide prevention coordinators (SPCs) play a pivotal role in helping connect veterans at risk of suicide to services and supports within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). They connect veterans identified as most at risk of suicide, using the VETS-REACH program, to services and supports and reach out to veterans who are referred through VA's very active Veterans Crisis Line to refer them to appropriate care.

VHA requires each VA medical center and large community based outpatient clinic to have a full-time SPC, however there is no requirement for VHA to document that all VA medical center positions are filled or that SPCs are properly qualified and trained to perform their duties. System wide, there may be significant differences in the qualifications, workload, and additional responsibilities of SPCs. Since qualifications for SPCs are not specified in VHA policy and workloads may vary significantly, VHA may not be providing adequate training, support and oversight for all incumbents.

S. 1392, the Support for Suicide Prevention Coordinators Act, would require the Government Accountability Office to conduct an assessment of the responsibilities, workload, and vacancy rates of VA's suicide prevention coordinators. A related bill, H.R. 2333, has already been approved by the House of Representatives and sent to the Senate.

DAV strongly supports this legislation in accordance with Resolution No. 293, which calls on VA to support program improvements, data collection, and reporting on suicide rates among veterans and service members as part of a robust and fully resourced mental health effort.

Please write your Senators to ask them to cosponsor this important legislation. Thank you for participating in the DAV National Commander's Action. ... See MoreSee Less

4 hours ago  ·