09/10/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/09/2024 10:59
What GAO Found
The Departments of Defense (DOD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) administer a number of transition programs to support separating service members and veterans, including those with mental health needs. GAO has recently reported on some of these programs and on DOD's and VA's efforts to assess their effectiveness in facilitating access to mental health services during the transition period. Since January 2023, GAO has made 11 recommendations to DOD and three to VA to improve their support for the transitioning population. As of August 2024, the departments had taken steps to implement some of these recommendations. Fully addressing them would help ensure that transitioning service members and veterans have the support they need and deserve.
Why GAO Did This Study
Thousands of service members transition from military service to civilian life each year-about 175,000 in calendar year 2022. Research has shown that during this transition period service members are especially vulnerable. One study found that the suicide rate within the first year of separation was about 2.5 times higher than for the active duty population.
To help address this concern, DOD and VA have various programs and processes available to support transitioning service members and veterans who may need mental health assistance. GAO's past work has identified areas for improvement to these programs and processes.
This statement summarizes GAO's recent work examining DOD's and VA's efforts to support service members and veterans with mental health needs during the transition from military to civilian life. This includes recommendations GAO made regarding (1) DOD's inTransition program; (2) DOD's warm handover process; (3) VA's Solid Start program; and (4) the DOD-VA Joint Executive Committee's assessment of mental health services across the transition continuum.
This statement is primarily based on three GAO reports issued between January 2023 and July 2024 (GAO-23-105699, GAO-24-106248, and GAO-24-106189). GAO also reviewed documents from DOD and VA related to steps the agencies have taken to address GAO's recommendations.
For more information, contact Alyssa M. Hundrup at (202) 512-7114 or [email protected] or John D. Sawyer at (202) 512-7215 or [email protected].