U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced legislation to make certain culturally competent mental health care for American Indian veterans is provided at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers nationwide.
The American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans Mental Health Act, would require each VA medical center to hire a minority veteran coordinator trained in the delivery of mental health and suicide prevention services which are culturally appropriate for Native veterans. The bill would also require each facility’s minority veteran coordinator to work in tandem with a suicide prevention coordinator to contact local tribal leadership, consult with them on mental health care delivery and provide the VA medical center director with an annual written plan for specific outreach to American Indian veterans.
Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
