WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) will introduce the Medical Integrity in Necessary Diagnostics (MIND) for Our Veterans Act of 2025. The MIND Our Veterans Act ensures that servicemembers receive effective, evidence-based mental health screenings prior to separation from active duty. The Separation Health Assessment (SHA) is designed to evaluate the overall health of members leaving military service. However, the tools used for mental health screening under this process are inconsistent, not always validated, and often fail to capture the full extent of risks associated with leaving the military. This bill would provide separating servicemembers with the support they need at the most vulnerable point in their military-to-civilian transition.
“Our veterans deserve the highest standard of care. Servicemembers’ transition back to civilian life is a critical moment that must set them up for success,” said Senator Ricketts.“The current process does not guarantee that success. My MIND Our Veterans Act will ensure that veterans receive proper mental health screenings prior to separation.”
The MIND Our Veterans Act would:
- Mandate that the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) use only validated, evidence-based tools for screening PTSD, alcohol misuse, and violence risk during the separation process;
- Ensures that a drug-use assessment is considered a core part of mental health screening, recognizing the critical connection between substance use and mental health challenges;
- Directs Joint Executive Committee of the DoD and VA to oversee validation, implementation, and reporting on all screenings;
- Requires DoD to fully implement the improved Separation Health Assessment within 120 days, creating urgency and accountability.
Bill text can be found here.
BACKGROUND:
Every year, thousands of servicemembers transition from active duty into veteran status. This transition can bring significant challenges, especially when it comes to mental health. Research consistently shows that recently separated servicemembers face heightened risks of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance misuse, depression, and even suicide.
Currently, the Separation Health Assessment (SHA) lacks a standardized, validated mental health and drug-use screening. This jeopardizes early identification and intervention for servicemembers in crisis, leaving the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to address problems after they have escalated.
