Supporting Our Troops: The Brandon Act’s Impact on Mental Health Care for Service Members

Introduction:

The mental health and well-being of our service members is of utmost importance. As part of our mission to strengthen the U.S. Navy, Americans for a Stronger Navy is proud to support the Brandon Act, which aims to improve mental health support for service members. The new policy will allow service members to seek help confidentially and improve the referral process for mental health evaluations. By taking care of our people, we ensure that they are ready to serve and protect our nation.

Summary:

The Brandon Act is named after Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Caserta, who died by suicide in 2018. The legislation was signed into law in 2021 and aims to reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health care. The policy directs the services to establish procedures for service members to request a referral for a mental health evaluation through a commanding officer or supervisor. The implementation of the Brandon Act will occur in two phases, and additional mental health resources will be available to service members worldwide.

Key takeaways:

• The Brandon Act aims to improve mental health support for service members.
• The policy allows service members to seek help confidentially and reduces the stigma associated with seeking mental health care.
• The services will establish procedures for service members to request a referral for a mental health evaluation through a commanding officer or supervisor.
• The implementation of the Brandon Act will occur in two phases, and additional mental health resources will be available to service members worldwide.

Conclusion:

We must support our service members who ask for help and ensure that they have access to confidential mental health care.

By supporting the Brandon Act, Americans for a Stronger Navy is taking an important step in strengthening the U.S. Navy. We urge all Americans to join us in supporting our troops and recognizing the importance of mental health care for our service members.

By doing so, we can ensure that our military services are ready and able to protect our nation.