Baucus working to reduce Guard, Reserve suicides

by Jennifer Donohue (Clark Fork Chronicle)

Montana's senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus expressed deep concern about military suicides after the Army released new data today showing suicides of Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers increased significantly to 145 in 2010, including two members of the Montana Army National Guard. Baucus is working with the Pentagon to implement the law he passed in 2009 to make sure troops get the care they need and deserve by requiring the military to conduct improved assessments to help identify signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and suicidal tendencies.


“Montana is proud to have more brave men and women volunteering for service than almost any other state in the country – many of them as citizen soldiers in the Guard and Reserves. The news of increased suicides among our citizen soldiers is deeply troubling. This issue hits home in the worst way because we have already lost too many Montana heroes to suicide. We owe it to our troops, their families and their communities to tackle this problem head on,” Baucus said. “I will continue working with military leaders at the Pentagon until I am confident every Guard and Reserve unit across the country has the tools and resources it needs to keep our troops safe while deployed and here at home.”

In 2009, Baucus wrote and passed a law to establish a new assessment program to identify post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, and other behavioral health conditions both before troops deploy and after they come home – including troops serving in the Guard and Reserve. Baucus is working with the Pentagon to confirm that it is in full compliance with the law and identify any additional resources that would help implement it.

Baucus modeled the law after an innovative program used by the Montana National Guard. The law requires the military to provide mental health assessments for every soldier, Marine, airman, and sailor during the 60 day period before a deployment and six, twelve, and twenty-four months after they’ve returned home. The assessments are to be provided in a private, clinical setting by licensed mental-health professionals or troops trained and certified to perform the assessments.

A recent study released in the American Journal of Psychiatry found pre-screening, like that required by Baucus’ law, to be a very effective tool in reducing mental health problems in the military. The report said pre-deployment screening helped decrease the need for clinical care for combat stress, psychiatric and behavioral disorders, and suicidal tendencies.

Baucus also plans to reintroduce his VET Act this Congress to help veterans find good-paying jobs when they come home by making it easier for businesses to get tax credits for hiring troops returning home from service.