A bipartisan bill that would require the implementation of a mental health and wellness program for law enforcement employees within the Department of Homeland Security advanced out of a House committee, according to a July 14 report from Government Executive.
The proposed DHS Suicide Prevention and Resiliency for Law Enforcement Act would establish a mental health program within the department's medical office. The resources will be provided for Customs and Border Protection, the Secret Service, the Transportation Security Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the inspector general's office.
The program would provide training and education focused on raising awareness, preventing suicides and eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health. If the bill is enacted, the program will be initiated within 180 days following.