Congressional alert
February 16, 2021
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Veterans Issues in the 117th Congress
Welcome to the 117th Congress! The nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation has been a trusted source for congressional staff on both sides of the aisle for decades. Our experts have testified and answered questions for staff on a variety of veterans’ health topics, including mental health, quality of care, suicide prevention, and much more. Below you’ll find some recent examples of RAND’s expertise that address issues likely to confront Congress this year.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you ever have any questions, would like to speak to a RAND researcher, or would like a copy of a RAND report.
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debbiehelbing/Getty Images
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More veterans die by suicide every year than the total number of combat deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. The rate at which veterans and service members die by suicide is a national security problem that requires a comprehensive approach. A recent testimony outlines six priorities for addressing the challenge of suicide and provides recommendations for tackling the problem among the veteran population, such as creating healthy environments for all service personnel and veterans and providing access to high-quality care for those at high risk.
Read the testimony »
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EJ Hersom/DoD News
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Veterans, especially those who deployed overseas, face elevated risks of mental health conditions, and veterans who have served since the September 11, 2001 attacks are especially vulnerable. Roughly one in five veterans experience mental health problems, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, and anxiety. RAND researchers have conducted multiple studies of the quality of mental health care received by veterans across the systems that deliver care. In this brief, they summarize the main lessons from this work and share recommendations for policies to improve the quality of mental health care for veterans.
Read the research brief »
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SDI Productions/Getty Images
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Veterans who have served in the military since September 11, 2001, are at particularly high risk for co-occurring substance use disorders (SUDs) and mental health disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. According to a RAND report, veterans with co-occurring mental health and SUDs could benefit most from evidence-based treatment for both types of disorders. Many veterans with co-occurring disorders do not receive treatment because of fear of repercussions or career harm, logistical barriers, beliefs they can handle their problems on their own, or not knowing where to seek quality care. Researchers identified recommendations that could increase the availability of and access to evidence-based, patient-centered treatment for these co-occurring SUDs and mental health disorders.
Read the report »
Read the research brief »
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SDI Productions/Getty Images
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Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI)—sometimes referred to as “invisible wounds”—can have significant negative effects on veterans’ mental and physical health, yet many veterans have difficulty accessing high-quality care for these conditions. RAND researchers propose standards and a definition for high-quality care for PTSD and TBI, based on a literature review and interviews with clinical and peer network partner organizations of the Veteran Wellness Alliance. The authors make recommendations for implementing, refining, and disseminating the definition and its associated metrics.
Read the report »
Read the research brief »
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RAND Congressional Resources Staff
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Experts and Research Available to You
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Members of Congress and staff can receive free copies of RAND reports and engage with researchers. To request reports, briefings, or meetings, or to invite researchers to testify, please contact:
ocr@rand.org or
(703) 413-1100, ext. 5643. |
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