[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 155 (Wednesday, September 27, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH AND THE NEED TO COMBAT 
                            VETERAN SUICIDE

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                           HON. PETER T. KING

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 27, 2017

  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of 
Suicide Prevention Month and to draw attention to the continuing fight 
against veteran suicide.
  Sadly, approximately 20 veterans take their own lives every day. In 
August 2016 the Veterans Administration released a comprehensive report 
on veteran suicide. Among the disturbing statistics in this report, it 
was revealed that though veterans make up 8.5 percent of the U.S. 
population, they accounted for 18 percent of suicides in 2014. This 
report also showed that we lost more veterans to suicide in 2014 than 
soldiers to the battlefield during Operations Iraqi Freedom and 
Enduring Freedom combined. It is clear that for many veterans a more 
arduous battle with PTSD and mental illness arises after they return 
from combat.
  That is why I am a proud sponsor of H.R. 411, the Veteran Suicide 
Prevention Act. This bill would require the VA to complete a publicly 
available review of the deaths of veterans who died by suicide during 
the preceding five-year period. The review would include key facts, 
such as the total number of veterans who have died by suicide, a 
comprehensive list of the medications prescribed to and found in the 
systems of such veterans, the percentage of such veterans with combat 
experience or trauma, Veterans Health Administration facilities with 
disproportionately high rates of psychiatric drug prescriptions and 
suicide among veterans, and recommendations to improve the safety and 
well-being of veterans.
  This review would provide vital information for identifying risk 
factors for suicide and improving mental healthcare for veterans. It is 
through gaining this understanding of the needs of veterans that we can 
work to stop this terrible epidemic.

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