Polling

Military personnel suicide

Even after spending tens of millions of dollars on suicide research and prevention programs, our Pentagon concedes it still does not know the reasons our military suicide rate has increased so rapidly. A recent report from the Pentagon found that 519 US service members died by suicide in 2021, a decrease from the 582 cases in 2020. Statistics show a pattern of young white males, both in the military and in civilian life, who use a gun to kill themselves. Studies show troops with multiple concussions and those with post-traumatic stress disorder are also more prone to suicidal thoughts and actions.

Members of the armed Forces who are behavioral health patients experiencing distress, emotional dysregulation, or suicidal ideation are often separated from direct clinical support when they need it. Advocates say the Virtual Hope Box (VHB) could help. VHB is a smartphone application designed for use by patients and their behavioral health providers as an accessory to treatment. The VHB contains simple tools to help patients with coping, relaxation, distraction and positive thinking. Users of the Virtual Hope Box application have reported significantly greater ability in coping with unpleasant emotions and thoughts.

Pending Legislation: H.R.2055 - Caring for Survivors Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Jahana Hayes (CT)
Status: House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
Chair: Rep. Morgan Luttrell (TX)

I oppose reforming current military suicide policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA).
I support increasing the monthly Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefit for surviving spouses of military suicide victims by:

1.) Increasing the monthly DIC benefit for surviving spouses. Instead of a fixed amount, the new rate would be set at 55% of the compensation paid to a veteran who was rated 100% disabled. This would raise the benefit by roughly $450 per month, or $5,400 per year, bringing it more in line with other federal survivor benefits.

2.) Reducing the time period a veteran must have been rated as 100% disabled due to a service-connected condition for their survivors to qualify for DIC. The requirement would be lowered from 10 years to five years before death.

3.) Pro-rating compensation for cases where a veteran was rated totally disabled for less than 10 years before death, the bill establishes a proportional benefit amount based on the duration of the disability rating.

4.) Ensuring that survivors of veterans who died before January 1, 1993, receive the higher of either their current benefit or the new rate.

And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Morgan Luttrell (TX) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

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Poll Opening Date

November 3, 2025

Poll Closing Date

November 9, 2025