Evaluation of the Department of Defense's Implementation of Suicide Prevention Resources for Transitioning Uniformed Service Members

Rec. A.1.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, in coordination with the Director of the Defense Health Agency and the Service Surgeons General, establish consistent policies and procedures to manage suicide risk screening and referral as part of the medical process for transitioning Service members. At a minimum, the policies and procedures should designate an organization to have oversight responsibility for mental health assessment processes for transitioning Service members.

Rec. A.2.a: The DoD OIG recommended that the Director of the Defense Health Agency, in collaboration with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Director of Mental Health Policy and Oversight and the Director of the DoD and Veteran's Affairs Collaboration Office, identify the causes for the breaks in arranging for continuous mental health care for all Service members in care who are transitioning from the military health system to the Veteran's Health Administration and create and implement solutions to increase the number of Service members who have continuous care arranged between the military health system and the Veteran's Health Administration or civilian mental health providers at the time of transition and continuity of care.