The Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro approved new policies that provide sailors with a more confidential process when accessing mental health services, according to a July 11 report from USNI News.
The polices are a response to the Brandon Act, which is named after Aviation Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Brandon Caserta, who died by suicide in 2018. The new policies will enable sailors to request a referral for mental health services through any commander or supervisor, without disclosing any further specifics surrounding the reason for treatment, according to the report.
Mr. Caserta's parents told USNI News that the act aims to address the stigma surrounding mental health that is especially prominent and dangerous within the military. They believe their son would have been able to receive help if the act had been in place sooner, and it now enables service members to receive mental health referrals with the highest level of confidentiality and shortest wait time going forward.
The Navy was the first U.S. service branch to implement the act, which was signed into law December 2021.Mr. Del Toro signed the policies into effect on July 10, according to the report.