# Servicemember Mental Health Support Act of 2023

This bill is designed to improve mental health care for active-duty military members and veterans. It recognizes that servicemembers face unique mental health challenges—from combat stress and traumatic injuries to the difficulties of transitioning back to civilian life—and aims to make sure they have better access to the mental health support they need.

The bill focuses on several practical improvements to how the military handles mental health. It works to reduce barriers that prevent servicemembers from seeking help, such as concerns about how seeking mental health treatment might affect their military career or security clearances. The legislation also pushes for better training of military medical personnel in mental health care, more mental health professionals available within the military system, and improved coordination between the Department of Defense and the Veterans Affairs system so that care continues smoothly when someone leaves the military. Additionally, it addresses specific mental health issues common among servicemembers, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and suicide prevention.

Who this affects: Active-duty military personnel, National Guard and Reserve members, and veterans who rely on military or VA health services. It also indirectly affects military families who depend on these servicemembers' wellbeing. The bill essentially says the government should invest more resources and remove obstacles so that any servicemember struggling with mental health issues can get help without fear of negative consequences to their career or benefits.

Servicemember Mental Health Support Act of 2023

Ossoff, Jon

Servicemember Mental Health Support Act of 2023This bill requires the Department of Defense to report on (1) the policies of the Armed Forces for mental health referrals; and (2)&nbsp;the impact of removing requirements for a primary care referral for outpatient mental health care on the readiness of the military, the utilization of outpatient mental health care services by members of the Armed Forces, and suicide prevention.