New Jersey Assembly Bill A2563

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/14/22
• Refer: 2/14/22

Caption

Requires DMVA conduct outcomes and efficacy study of veteran to veteran peer support helpline.

Impact

The findings from this study will not only aim to measure the helpline's overall efficacy in assisting veterans at risk of suicide but also explore specific aspects such as the visibility of the helpline, the role it plays in the broader mental health services of the DMVA, and the long-term impacts of using the helpline on veterans' mental health. The results could potentially inform future legislation and improve mental health services designed for veterans by highlighting effective practices in peer support. This could lead to more tailored approaches to suicidality among veterans in New Jersey and possibly set a precedent for similar initiatives in other states.

Summary

Assembly Bill A2563 focuses on enhancing mental health support for veterans in New Jersey. It specifically mandates the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to conduct a two-year study evaluating the outcomes and efficacy of the 'vet to vet' helpline, a peer support initiative aimed at assisting veterans in distress. The bill emphasizes the importance of this helpline as a crucial component of mental health care for veterans, especially in preventing suicides within this demographic. By closely analyzing national suicide data along with data gathered from the helpline, the study is expected to offer substantial insights into the effectiveness of such peer support systems.

Contention

While the bill has generally been received positively due to its focus on mental health and suicide prevention among veterans, there may be concerns regarding resource allocation and the practicality of implementing the findings into existing veteran services. Additionally, there could be debates surrounding the extent to which such studies can genuinely translate into effective policy changes or if they merely serve as a formality without significant follow-through in improving support structures for veterans. Stakeholders may push for comprehensive evaluations that are not only reliant on quantitative data but also incorporate qualitative aspects of veterans' experiences when using the helpline.