The U.S. Military is implementing the Brandon Act, legislation designed to make it easier for service members to seek mental health treatment.
According to an Oct. 3 news release from Tricare, the new policy will allow service members to seek a referral for mental health treatment from a commanding officer. It will be mandatory for officers to honor the request.
"The new process allows service members to seek help confidentially, for any reason, at any time and in any environment, and aims to reduce the stigma associated with seeking help," Capt. Kenneth Richter, director for mental health policy and oversight in the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, said in the news release.
President Joe Biden signed the Brandon Act into law in 2021. The law is named for Brandon Caserta, a Navy petty officer third class who died by suicide in 2018.