FAST HELP FOR SUICIDAL VETERANS
It has a very long title, but a short, concise purpose. The Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment Act of 2020, or the Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020, section 201, allows eligible suicidal veterans to go to an emergency room for help. This opens the door for 9 million veterans to get the care they need.
But the scope is much wider. An acutely suicidal veteran can go to not only a Department of Veterans Affairs emergency room, but any emergency room.
The VA will pick up the tab, at no cost to the veteran, for inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and then outpatient care for up to 90 days, as well as any necessary transportation. The veteran doesn’t need to be enrolled in VA health care.
After getting that care, they’ll determine eligibility for any other VA services and benefits and refer the veteran to appropriate programs.
Even though the VA believes that there are 9 million veterans who can take advantage of this, if necessary, there are a few eligibility requirements.
Veterans must have been discharged or released from active duty after serving more than 24 months, and leave under conditions other than dishonorable.
Eligible individuals are former members of the armed forces (including reserves) who served more than 100 days “under a combat exclusion or in support of a contingency operation either directly or by operating an unmanned aerial vehicle from another location” and again, be discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
And thirdly, former members of the armed forces who were the victims of sexual assault or sexual harassment are eligible.
If you or someone you know needs help, there are a number of ways to get it. Go online to wveteranscrisisline.net and view the choices. You can call them by dialing 988 and then pressing 1. You can chat online at that website. Or you can text a message to 838255. Help is available 24/7 from qualified, trained people.
Or, per this Act, help is as close as the nearest emergency room.