The Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act was introduced on Wednesday by U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).
“One veteran’s life lost to suicide is too many,” Ernst said. “By narrowing in on the mental health and suicide prevention programs available to our female veterans, we can ensure our returning veterans have access to quality care that meets their unique needs to transition back into civilian life.”
The legislation comes in response a recent study by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that revealed an alarming increase in suicide among female veterans. Rates of suicide among female veterans increased by 40 percent from 2000 to 2010, according to the study, which tracked more than 174,000 veteran and non-veteran suicides. The study also found that female veterans, who account for 10 percent of the veteran population, have a suicide rate approximately six times greater than that of civilian women. The risk doubles for female veterans between the ages of 18-29.
The act would require the VA to include specific metrics on females in its annual evaluation of mental health and suicide prevention programs. It would also require the VA to identify the programs that are most effective and carry the highest satisfaction rates among female veterans.
“It is shocking to learn that women veterans are committing suicide at nearly six times the rate of civilian women,” Boxer said. “Our bill will focus attention on which VA mental health and suicide prevention programs are working and which are not, so we can better serve the women who courageously served our country.”
Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA) authored similar legislation, H.R. 2915, that passed out of the House Veterans Affairs Committee in September.