Secretary of War Christine Worms this week announced a policy for soldiers aimed at improving access to mental health treatment by allowing soldiers to request immediate referral for evaluation from supervisors and commanders. signed the new directives of
After several months of delays in implementing a DoD policy announced in May, Secretary Wormuth announced to Army Command on Aug. 29 that units could request mental health examinations without giving reasons or justification. issued a memorandum enacting the Brandon Act to
Under this policy, entitled “Self-referral Process for Soldier Mental Health Assessment,” soldiers may request a referral through a commanding officer or supervisor of the rank of sergeant or higher, resulting in the following: We must ensure that such appointments are made.” as soon as possible” and follow up to ensure that service members are aware of the date, time and place of the evaluation.
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The policy stems from a section of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022, named after Navy Aviation Electrical Engineer 3rd Class Brandon Caserta, who died by suicide in 2018. It is obligatory to enact a program. Repercussions or retaliation if they request a mental health assessment through their mentor.
“I call on leaders to continue to make clear that they are encouraged to look after their own and their families’ mental health,” Wormuth said in a press release Thursday. “We must always look for additional ways to connect our soldiers with the resources they need for their well-being. It gives soldiers new tools to ask for help while respecting it.”
On May 5, the Pentagon issued directives related to the Act, giving the military 45 days to draft and enact a Brandon Act policy. The deadline was June 19, but the Navy and Marine Corps announced their policy on July 11, followed by the Air Force on August 7.
The Army’s delay in releasing the version has angered supporters of the bill, including Brandon Caserta’s parents, Patrick Caserta and Teri Caserta. The Casertas have lobbied for the bill to be passed, spending much of the year asking government agencies to implement it.
Last week, the Casertas issued a harshly worded press release through the Brandon Caserta Foundation, condemning the delay and saying it meant the military was not taking suicide and mental health issues among its soldiers seriously.
After Caserta personnel publicly expressed their anger over the delay on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Army Public Affairs Office told Military.com that the military was drafting instructions. It did not mention that Worms had signed on that day.
“The Army is deliberately working to finalize a new policy that will provide Soldiers with additional avenues to confidentially seek help for any reason, at any time, in any circumstance, consistent with the Brandon Act. The goal is to reduce victimization and the stigma associated with seeking mental health care,” Bryce Duby wrote in an email to Military.com.
The Aug. 29 memorandum was released late Thursday. A copy was obtained by Military.com he later that day.
“The Army fosters a culture of support to create an environment that promotes help-seeking behavior and reduces stigma against help-seeking in the provision of mental health care,” Worms wrote in a note. .
New Army policy requires military personnel to be trained annually on their right to request mental health examinations, and may not share the results of mental health examinations with the provider, except as specified in DoD Directive 6490.08. It asks commanders to maintain their privacy so they don’t ask for help.
These exceptions include when soldiers are at risk of harming themselves, others, or their mission. Requires hospitalization or substance abuse treatment. You have an acute medical condition that interferes with your work. Or, in addition to other special circumstances, when military personnel are required by command to undergo a mental health examination.
In the memo, Worms noted that military personnel do not have to wait for referrals for mental health evaluations and can always seek mental health treatment through their primary care physician at a military medical facility. Non-medical counseling and therapy is also available from Military and Family Assistance Centers, Military One Source, Military Chaplains, and Military and Family Life Counselors.
Commanders may also refer soldiers for mental health screening on an ongoing basis if they determine that the service member requires mental health screening.
Army policy differs from Air Force, Space Force, Navy, and Marine Corps policy in that supervisors are defined as E-7 and above. Air Force policy allows personnel to request referrals through anyone with a rank of her E-6 or higher, but the Navy and Marine Corps have given her E-5 the ability to receive self-referrals.
This policy applies only to Army Reserves and Army National Guardsmen who have been ordered to active duty for 30 days or more.
On Thursday, Patrick Caserta, a retired senior petty officer and veteran, said he thanked Wormuth and his staff for ultimately enforcing the Brandon Act.
“We didn’t want our son to die in vain,” Patrick Caserta said in an Army press release. “We are in the life-saving business and will continue to do so for the rest of our lives. We thank the Secretary of War and his staff for enforcing this policy.”
If you are a military or veteran and need help, call or text the Veterans and Military Crisis Line, 988, or chat to 988lifeline.org, or 24/7 through the online chat feature below. Available. www.veterancrisisline.net.
— Patricia Kim can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on her Twitter and thread @patriciakime.
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