I 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1284 

To amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the suicide prevention 

program of the Department of Defense by specifically requiring suicide 

prevention training during recruit basic training, preseparation counseling, and mental health assessments. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 31, 2011 

Mr. BACA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Armed Services 

A BILL 

To amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the 

suicide prevention program of the Department of Defense 

by specifically requiring suicide prevention training during recruit basic training, preseparation counseling, and 

mental health assessments. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Armed Forces Suicide 

5 Prevention Act of 2011’’. 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 1284 IH

1 SEC. 2. ENHANCEMENT OF SUICIDE PREVENTION PRO2 GRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 

3 (a) ENHANCEMENT.—The Secretary of Defense shall 

4 take appropriate actions to enhance the suicide prevention 

5 program of the Department of Defense through the provi6 sion of suicide prevention information and resources to 

7 members of the Armed Forces from their initial enlistment 

8 or appointment through their final retirement or separa9 tion. 

10 (b) COOPERATIVE EFFORT.—The Secretary of De11 fense shall develop suicide prevention information and re12 sources in consultation with— 

13 (1) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Na14 tional Institute of Mental Health, and the Substance 

15 Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of 

16 the Department of Health and Human Services; and 

17 (2) to the extent appropriate, institutions of 

18 higher education and other public and private enti19 ties, including international entities, with expertise 

20 regarding suicide prevention. 

21 SEC. 3. SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING COMPONENT DUR22 ING RECRUIT BASIC TRAINING. 

23 (a) ARMY.— 

24 (1) TRAINING REQUIRED.—Chapter 401 of title 

25 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting 

26 after section 4320 the following new section: 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 1284 IH

1 ‘‘§ 4320a. Recruit basic training: availability of sui2 cide prevention resources 

3 ‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY.—As part of the initial entry 

4 training program of the Army that constitutes the basic 

5 training of new recruits, the Secretary of the Army shall 

6 include a training component on suicide prevention. 

7 ‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—The suicide prevention training 

8 component shall include the following: 

9 ‘‘(1) Methods for recognizing risk factors for 

10 suicide. 

11 ‘‘(2) Protocols for responding to crisis situa12 tions involving members who may be at high risk for 

13 suicide. 

14 ‘‘(3) Information about suicide prevention serv15 ices available to members, including toll-free hotlines 

16 and Internet resources. 

17 ‘‘(4) Information on best practices for suicide 

18 prevention.’’. 

19 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec20 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 

21 by inserting after the item relating to section 4320 

22 the following new item: 

‘‘4320a. Recruit basic training: availability of suicide prevention resources.’’. 

23 (b) NAVY AND MARINE CORPS.— 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 1284 IH

1 (1) TRAINING REQUIRED.—Chapter 602 of 

2 such title is amended by adding at the end the fol3 lowing new section: 

4 ‘‘§ 6933. Recruit basic training: availability of suicide 

5 prevention resources 

6 ‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY.—As part of the initial entry 

7 training program of the Navy and the Marine Corps that 

8 constitutes the basic training of new recruits, the Sec9 retary of the Navy shall include a training component on 

10 suicide prevention. 

11 ‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—The suicide prevention training 

12 component shall include the following: 

13 ‘‘(1) Methods for recognizing risk factors for 

14 suicide. 

15 ‘‘(2) Protocols for responding to crisis situa16 tions involving members who may be at high risk for 

17 suicide. 

18 ‘‘(3) Information about suicide prevention serv19 ices available to members, including toll-free hotlines 

20 and Internet resources. 

21 ‘‘(4) Information on best practices for suicide 

22 prevention.’’. 

23 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec24 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 

25 by adding at the end the following new item: 

‘‘602. Recruit basic training: availability of suicide prevention resources.’’. 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 1284 IH

1 (c) AIR FORCE.— 

2 (1) TRAINING REQUIRED.—Chapter 901 of 

3 such title is amended by inserting after section 9320 

4 the following new section: 

5 ‘‘§ 9320a. Recruit basic training: availability of sui6 cide prevention resources 

7 ‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY.—As part of the initial entry 

8 training program of the Air Force that constitutes the 

9 basic training of new recruits, the Secretary of the Air 

10 Force shall include a training component on suicide pre11 vention. 

12 ‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—The suicide prevention training 

13 component shall include the following: 

14 ‘‘(1) Methods for recognizing risk factors for 

15 suicide. 

16 ‘‘(2) Protocols for responding to crisis situa17 tions involving members who may be at high risk for 

18 suicide. 

19 ‘‘(3) Information about suicide prevention serv20 ices available to members, including toll-free hotlines 

21 and Internet resources. 

22 ‘‘(4) Information on best practices for suicide 

23 prevention.’’. 

24 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec25 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
6 

•HR 1284 IH

1 by inserting after the item relating to section 4320 

2 the following new item: 

‘‘4320a. Recruit basic training: availability of suicide prevention resources.’’. 

3 SEC. 4. NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF AND ACCESS TO SUI4 CIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES DURING 

5 PRESEPARATION COUNSELING. 

6 Section 1142(b)(8) of title 10, United States Code, 

7 is amended by inserting before the period the following: 

8 ‘‘and the availability to the member and the member’s 

9 family of the suicide prevention resources described in sec10 tion 1177(d) of this title’’. 

11 SEC. 5. NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF AND ACCESS TO SUI12 CIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES DURING 

13 MEDICAL EXAMINATION TO EVALUATE A DI14 AGNOSIS OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DIS15 ORDER OR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. 

16 Section 1177 of title 10, United States Code, is 

17 amended by adding at the end the following new sub18 section: 

19 ‘‘(d) AVAILABILITY OF SUICIDE PREVENTION RE20 SOURCES.—(1) The medical examination required by sub21 section (a) shall include the provision of information to 

22 the member regarding the availability of the suicide pre23 vention resources described in paragraph (2) and the right 

24 of the member to access such resources. 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
7 

•HR 1284 IH

1 ‘‘(2) The suicide prevention resources available under 

2 paragraph (1) shall include the following: 

3 ‘‘(A) Methods for recognizing risk factors for 

4 suicide. 

5 ‘‘(B) Protocols for responding to crisis situa6 tions involving members who may be at high risk for 

7 suicide. 

8 ‘‘(C) Information about suicide prevention serv9 ices available to members, including toll-free hotlines 

10 and Internet resources. 

11 ‘‘(D) Information on best practices for suicide 

12 prevention.’’. 

Æ 


tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS