Bills
| 3.23.22

Should the VA Study the Effectiveness of the Veterans Crisis Line? (H.R. 4173)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 4173?

(Updated November 15, 2018)

This bill would require the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a study on the outcomes and efficacy of the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) during the five-year period beginning January 1, 2014 based on an analysis of national suicide data and data collected from the line. The VCL provides a free and confidential service to veterans, and their friends and families.

The study would address:

  • The efficacy of the VCL in leading veterans to sustained mental health regimens and suicide prevention;

  • The VCL’s visibility;

  • The role of the VCL as part of the VA’s mental healthcare services;

  • Whether receiving sustained mental healthcare affects suicidality, including among veterans who are at high risk for suicide.

Argument in favor

The VA should study the effectiveness of the Veterans Crisis Line to find ways to improve its delivery of mental health services to our nation’s heroes. This is a commonsense, bipartisan bill.

Argument opposed

There’s no need for the VA to study the outcomes and effectiveness of the Veterans Crisis Line, they can find ways to improve the crisis line without carrying out a study.

Impact

The Veterans Crisis Line; and the VA.

Cost of H.R. 4173

The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would cost $1 million over the 2018-2022 period.

Additional Info

In-Depth: This legislation passed the House Veterans Affairs Committee on a voice vote and has the support of 14 bipartisan cosponsors, including nine Republicans and five Democrats.


Of Note: In September 2017, the VA released a report which found that after adjusting for differences in age and sex, risk for suicide was 22 percent higher among veterans when compared to non-veteran adults. Female veterans had a suicide risk that’s 2.5 times higher than non-veteran adult women. VA Secretary David Shulkin said of the study:

“These findings are deeply concerning, which is why I made suicide prevention my top clinical priority. I am committed to reducing veteran suicides through support and education. We know that of the 20 suicides a day that we reported last year, 14 are not under VA care. This is a national public health issue that requires a concerted, national approach.”


Media:

Summary by Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: KatarzynaBialasiewicz / iStock)