Reps. Grace Napolitano and Tim Ryan host military suicide prevention briefing

Earlier this week, Reps. Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32) and Tim Ryan (OH-13), co-hosted a mental health briefing in conjunction with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to educate members of Congress and their staff on roles they can take to help promote resilience and successful transitions for Military Service Members and Veterans, thereby reducing suicide.

“Mental illness knows no boundaries and affects everybody in every segment of our society.” Napolitano said. “We must work together to eliminate stigma for the health and well-being of our brave men and women in uniform. When our veterans return home, these invisible injuries can have a devastating effect on them and their families. We must treat these invisible wounds just as we treat physical wounds. I thank everyone who came today to continue this critical dialogue. Through education of our colleagues, staff, and families, we can save lives by letting those suffering know it is always okay to ask for help.”

“As legislators and leaders, we have the responsibility to work hard to find innovative approaches to address our Veterans’ mental health and combat Veteran suicide,” said Rep. Ryan, Co-Chair of the Congressional Military Mental Health Caucus. “Today's panel took a positive step in that direction, but we must remain vigilant in seeing that these men and women who served in our armed forces receive the first class help they deserve.”

Speakers at the briefing included:

• Dr. Janet Kemp, RN, PhD, National Mental Health Program Director for Suicide Prevention and Community Engagement at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
• David Litts, OD, Executive Secretary for the Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention;
• Colonel (Ret.) Don Osterberg, Senior Vice President of Safety and Security at Schneider National, Inc.;
• John Madigan, Senior Director of Public Policy at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention;
• First Sergeant John Williams, Instructor at the Schneider Training Academy at Schneider National, Inc.; and,
• Sandra Mason, Acting Director for Recovery Care Coordination at the Department of Defense.

They presented techniques and resources to prevent suicide among active duty military personnel and veterans and showed how individuals can help reduce stigma through self-advocacy and education.