Flags mark graves at the Fort Logan National Cemetery in southeast Denver in May. A new law, called the Brandon Act requires commanders to connect to troops to mental health care in an effort to help prevent suicides. Associated Press
By Mary Shinn, The Gazette, September 18, 2023
For those in crisis
The Military Crisis Line is 988, followed by 1, or access an online chat by texting 838255.Military OneSource also provides 12 counseling sessions with a community provider. Sessions can be requested at www.militaryonesourceconnect.org/.
Commanders across the military are now required to help troops get mental health care as soon as possible to help prevent suicides under a new law called the Brandon Act.
It’s designed to address an often reported concern of commanders preventing service members from trying to get help, explained retired Army Lt. Col. Damian McCabe, director of behavioral health for UCHealth’s southern region. He is also leading a pilot project to reduce veteran suicides.
As an officer for 24 years, McCabe heard how commanders would suggest subordinates needed to wait to seek mental health care or told them to "suck it up." The commanders' instructions likely did not come from meanness or spite, he said, but rather the cultural belief that seeking care would be a sign of weakness.
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