US HB6454

Secretary of Veterans Affairs must establish a "Zero Suicide Initiative" pilot program within 180 days, implementing the Zero Suicide Institute curriculum at 5 VA medical centers (at least one serving rural/remote veterans) for 5 years with possible 2-year extension

First year dedicated to program development; each site selects 5-10 staff leaders to complete at least 10 weeks of suicide care education, including a two-day Zero Suicide Academy and organizational self-study

Staff training covers screening, assessment, electronic health records use, risk formulation, treatment, care transitions, and lethal means counseling for veterans at risk of suicide

Secretary must consult with HHS, NIH, NIMH, SAMHSA, veterans service organizations, and suicide prevention experts when developing the program and selecting sites based on factors including staff capacity, geographic variation, and regional veteran suicide rates

Annual progress reports required starting 2 years after establishment, plus a final report within 1 year of termination assessing effectiveness, comparing suicide-related outcomes to non-program VA sites, and recommending whether to expand or make the program permanent