Suicide rates triple for veterans in the first 12 months following their separation from the military. In Iowa, the veteran suicide rate is four times higher than the national average. This is a mounting crisis that we must address to save the lives of those who proudly wear the uniform to protect our values.
I recently joined the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee to fight for my legislation aimed at reducing veteran suicide rates and improving the lives of our veterans. Take a look:
The bipartisan Daniel J. Harvey Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act is named for Cpl. Adam Lambert of Adel, Iowa who tragically lost his life to suicide after returning home from serving in the Marines. He was a son, brother, proud Marine and brave enough to raise his hand to serve our country.
Too often, America’s veterans struggle with the transition from service to civilian life. In Cpl. Lambert’s memory, I’m hopeful that we can save lives.
If you are a veteran or a civilian facing a mental health crisis, know you’re not alone. Help is just a text or a phone call away. Connect with a trained advocate by calling 988 24/7/365. Someone is here to help.