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EO 13625Executive OrderObama · D Quiet signal

Executive Order 13625

Improving Access to Mental Health Services for Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families

This executive order directs multiple federal agencies to expand mental health services for veterans, service members, and military families through suicide prevention programs, community provider partnerships, increased staffing, and a national research action plan on PTSD and traumatic brain injury. It establishes an interagency task force to coordinate implementation and requires specific deliverables including expanded crisis line capacity, pilot projects with community providers, and hiring of 800 peer counselors and 1,600 mental health professionals.

Federal Register Open PDF 77 FR 54783

Impact dates

  1. DoD program realignment by end of Fiscal Year 2014

  2. 800 peer-to-peer counselors hired and trained

  3. 1,600 mental health professionals hired

  4. National Research Action Plan due

  5. 15 community provider pilot projects; Task Force recommendations

  6. Veterans Crisis Line 50% capacity expansion; 100,000 service members enrolled in study

  7. National suicide prevention campaign begins

Key directives

  • Expand Veterans Crisis Line capacity by 50% by December 31, 2012
  • Ensure crisis veterans connect with mental health professional within 24 hours
  • Launch 12-month national suicide prevention campaign beginning September 1, 2012
  • Review and realign DoD mental health programs by end of FY2014
  • Establish minimum 15 community provider pilot projects within 180 days
  • Develop VA guidance for community mental health and telehealth services
  • Develop rural mental health recruitment initiative plan
  • Hire and train 800 peer-to-peer counselors by December 31, 2013
  • Hire 1,600 mental health professionals by June 30, 2013
  • Establish National Research Action Plan within 8 months
  • Enroll 100,000 service members in longitudinal study by December 31, 2012
  • Establish Interagency Task Force with annual reporting requirements

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Veterans Crisis Line expansion to begin
  • National suicide prevention campaign begins September 1, 2012

Near term (90d)

  • Veterans Crisis Line 50% capacity expansion due by December 31, 2012
  • 100,000 service members enrolled in longitudinal mental health study by December 31, 2012
  • National Research Action Plan due within 8 months (by April 30, 2013)
  • Interagency Task Force recommendations due within 180 days (by February 27, 2013)
  • 15 community provider pilot projects established within 180 days (by February 27, 2013)

Long term

  • 800 peer-to-peer counselors hired and trained by December 31, 2013
  • 1,600 mental health professionals hired by June 30, 2013
  • DoD program realignment by end of Fiscal Year 2014
  • Annual Task Force reviews ongoing
  • Long-term follow-up for longitudinal study enrollees

Risks & tensions

  • Hiring targets (1,600 professionals by June 2013) may conflict with VA's documented challenges in recruiting mental health providers in underserved areas
  • Pilot project success depends on VA's ability to maintain care integration while outsourcing services
  • 'Subject to availability of appropriations' clause (Sec. 7) may limit implementation if Congress does not fund expansion
  • Task Force required to ensure new requirements are 'supported within existing resources,' creating tension with ambitious expansion goals
  • Rural recruitment initiative lacks specific staffing targets or timeline, creating implementation uncertainty
Executive Order 13625: Improving Access to Mental Health Services for Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families · Executive Orders