PUBLIC LAW 110–110—NOV. 5, 2007 121 STAT. 1031 

Public Law 110–110 

110th Congress 

An Act 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

to develop and implement a comprehensive program designed to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide 

Prevention Act’’. 

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

It is the sense of Congress that— 

(1) suicide among veterans suffering from post-traumatic 

stress disorder (in this section referred to as ‘‘PTSD’’) is a 

serious problem; and 

(2) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should take into 

consideration the special needs of veterans suffering from PTSD 

and the special needs of elderly veterans who are at high 

risk for depression and experience high rates of suicide in 

developing and implementing the comprehensive program 

under this Act. 

SEC. 3. COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION 

AMONG VETERANS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.— 

(1) COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

AMONG VETERANS.—Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, 

is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 

‘‘§ 1720F. Comprehensive program for suicide prevention 

among veterans 

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall develop and carry 

out a comprehensive program designed to reduce the incidence 

of suicide among veterans incorporating the components described 

in this section. 

‘‘(b) STAFF EDUCATION.—In carrying out the comprehensive program under this section, the Secretary shall provide for mandatory 

training for appropriate staff and contractors (including all medical 

personnel) of the Department who interact with veterans. This 

training shall cover information appropriate to the duties being 

performed by such staff and contractors. The training shall include 

information on— 

‘‘(1) recognizing risk factors for suicide; 

38 USC 1720F 

note. 

38 USC 101 note. 

Joshua Omvig 

Veterans Suicide 

Prevention Act. 

Nov. 5, 2007 

[H.R. 327] 

121 STAT. 1032 PUBLIC LAW 110–110—NOV. 5, 2007 

‘‘(2) proper protocols for responding to crisis situations 

involving veterans who may be at high risk for suicide; and 

‘‘(3) best practices for suicide prevention. 

‘‘(c) HEALTH ASSESSMENTS OF VETERANS.—In carrying out the 

comprehensive program, the Secretary shall direct that medical 

staff offer mental health in their overall health assessment when 

veterans seek medical care at a Department medical facility 

(including a center established under section 1712A of this title) 

and make referrals, at the request of the veteran concerned, to 

appropriate counseling and treatment programs for veterans who 

show signs or symptoms of mental health problems. 

‘‘(d) DESIGNATION OF SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNSELORS.—In 

carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary shall designate a suicide prevention counselor at each Department medical 

facility other than centers established under section 1712A of this 

title. Each counselor shall work with local emergency rooms, police 

departments, mental health organizations, and veterans service 

organizations to engage in outreach to veterans and improve the 

coordination of mental health care to veterans. 

‘‘(e) BEST PRACTICES RESEARCH.—In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary shall provide for research on 

best practices for suicide prevention among veterans. Research shall 

be conducted under this subsection in consultation with the heads 

of the following entities: 

‘‘(1) The Department of Health and Human Services. 

‘‘(2) The National Institute of Mental Health. 

‘‘(3) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration. 

‘‘(4) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

‘‘(f) SEXUAL TRAUMA RESEARCH.—In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary shall provide for research on 

mental health care for veterans who have experienced sexual 

trauma while in military service. The research design shall include 

consideration of veterans of a reserve component. 

‘‘(g) 24-HOUR MENTAL HEALTH CARE.—In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary shall provide for mental health 

care availability to veterans on a 24-hour basis. 

‘‘(h) HOTLINE.—In carrying out the comprehensive program, 

the Secretary may provide for a toll-free hotline for veterans to 

be staffed by appropriately trained mental health personnel and 

available at all times. 

‘‘(i) OUTREACH AND EDUCATION FOR VETERANS AND FAMILIES.— 

In carrying out the comprehensive program, the Secretary shall 

provide for outreach to and education for veterans and the families 

of veterans, with special emphasis on providing information to 

veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring 

Freedom and the families of such veterans. Education to promote 

mental health shall include information designed to— 

‘‘(1) remove the stigma associated with mental illness; 

‘‘(2) encourage veterans to seek treatment and assistance 

for mental illness; 

‘‘(3) promote skills for coping with mental illness; and 

‘‘(4) help families of veterans with— 

‘‘(A) understanding issues arising from the readjustment of veterans to civilian life; 

‘‘(B) identifying signs and symptoms of mental illness; 

and 

PUBLIC LAW 110–110—NOV. 5, 2007 121 STAT. 1033 

‘‘(C) encouraging veterans to seek assistance for mental 

illness. 

‘‘(j) PEER SUPPORT COUNSELING PROGRAM.—(1) In carrying out 

the comprehensive program, the Secretary may establish and carry 

out a peer support counseling program, under which veterans shall 

be permitted to volunteer as peer counselors— 

‘‘(A) to assist other veterans with issues related to mental 

health and readjustment; and 

‘‘(B) to conduct outreach to veterans and the families of 

veterans. 

‘‘(2) In carrying out the peer support counseling program under 

this subsection, the Secretary shall provide adequate training for 

peer counselors. 

‘‘(k) OTHER COMPONENTS.—In carrying out the comprehensive 

program, the Secretary may provide for other actions to reduce 

the incidence of suicide among veterans that the Secretary considers 

appropriate.’’. 

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the 

beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end 

the following new item: 

‘‘1720F. Comprehensive program for suicide prevention among veterans.’’. 

(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 

(1) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 90 days after the 

date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 

Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the comprehensive 

program under section 1720F of title 38, United States Code, 

as added by subsection (a). 

(2) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—The report shall contain the 

following: 

(A) Information on the status of the implementation 

of such program. 

(B) Information on the time line and costs for complete 

implementation of the program within two years. 

(C) A plan for additional programs and activities 

designed to reduce the occurrence of suicide among veterans. 

121 STAT. 1034 PUBLIC LAW 110–110—NOV. 5, 2007 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 327 (S. 479): 

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 110–55 (Comm. on Veterans’ Affairs). 

SENATE REPORTS: No. 110–132 accompanying S. 479 (Comm. on Veterans’ Affairs). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 153 (2007): 

Mar. 21, considered and passed House. 

Sept. 27, considered and passed Senate, amended. 

Oct. 23, House concurred in Senate amendment. 

Æ 

(D) Recommendations for further legislation or 

administrative action that the Secretary considers appropriate to improve suicide prevention programs within the 

Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Approved November 5, 2007.