Press Releases

This week, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released its 2026 National Suicide Prevention Annual Report, which analyzes the prevalence of veteran suicide from 2001 to 2024, the most recent year for which data is available. The report shows there were 6,488 suicides among veterans in 2024, and the average number of veteran suicides per day was 17.7. In recent years, Congress has made sweeping, bipartisan expansions to mental health care access – however, the data shows there is still more work to be done through bills like House Republicans Take Care of America’s Veterans Act – to continue to expand veterans’ access to support networks nationwide, especially for veterans who are outside VA’s direct network.

“House Republicans are leading the charge to ensure that there is no wrong door for veterans who may be struggling with PTSD, depression, and substance abuse. One person who has raised their right hand and served our great country and is lost to suicide is one too many. We have made a lot of progress in bringing down the suicide rate among the veteran community, but I firmly believe that we cannot take our foot off the gas in thinking outside the box and advancing major solutions to expand options for our men and women who have and will serve,” said Chairman Bost. “There is no denying that there is shortage of mental health services in certain parts of the country. In those communities, House Republicans are focused on bridging the gap by ensuring that when a VA is not right up the road – there’s another facility – or support system – that will accept a veterans’ VA benefits and get them the help they need. The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act would provide the funding to allow us to do exactly that in communities where veterans and their families live.”

The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act is supported by over 70% of the veteran community and includes the following major expansions for mental health care support networks, treatment, and research:

• Would extend funding for VA’s Staff Sergent Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program from one year to three years, helping to provide greater long-term stability for both the program and federal grant recipients. Would authorize up to 30 organizations to receive an additional bonus grant award of up to $250,000. 
• Would establish a new grant program to fund non-profit mental health organizations that provide evidence-based, integrated therapy services for addiction and substance abuse treatment, to allow veterans to access close-to-home rehabilitation treatment. These organizations provide comprehensive therapy that builds up their support system and have a track record of proven results.
• Would fund two VA grant programs to research, evaluate, and implement neurorehabilitation treatments for mTBI.
• Would establish a VA pilot program to establish and enhance interoperable community integration platforms to connect veterans with local organizations that provide health and social services.
• Would fund a 3-year pilot program in which VA, through non-profit service dog organizations, provides service dogs to veterans for PTSD, TBI, and other conditions.
• Would expand VA research into TBI, blast exposure, dementia, and other related mental health conditions.
• Would require VA to conduct a study that compares mental health treatment and outcomes between VA direct care and external community care providers.
  

*If you or a veteran you know may be struggling with thoughts of suicide, immediate, 24/7 help is available by dialing 988 and pressing 1.