A Value-Critical Choice Analysis of a Policy to Prevent Suicide in Veterans and Service Members

Abstract

A few years after the advent of the Global War on Terror, veteran and service member suicide emerged on the national forefront as a public health issue of significant concern. This social policy analysis applies a value-critical choice model to the military suicide prevention provisions mandated by Section 2 of Exec. Order No. 13625 (2012): Improving Access to Mental Health Services for Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families. Results reveal that the suicide prevention provisions mandated by the order have not been fully and effectively implemented and the goal of reducing military suicide remains elusive.

Keywords::

• Social policy
• veteran suicide
• service member suicide
• military
• policy analysis