Schumer Proposes Expansion Of Mental Health Screening Rules For Service Members

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Sen. Charles Schumer wants to change mental health screening rules for service members.

Currently, service members go through a suicide-potential screening immediately before and after deployment, but that still leaves a gap in monitoring who might be at risk, CBS2 reported. Members of the Guard, Reserves and those who are not set to deploy cannot receive the screening.

"Many health issues are developed over time, so if you stop the screening right after the person comes back from combat, that's not good enough," Schumer said.

The legislation would ensure every service member, including Active, Guard and Reserve, receive a quality mental health assessment every year, regardless of deployment status, Schumer said.

In the past decade, New York State reported 1,500 military-related suicides and Schumer said suicide rates among members of the National Guard and Reserves rose from 2012 to 2013.

The legislation is part of the National Defense Authorization Act, which will be considered by Congress before the end of this year.
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