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More mental health screening needed for military, senator says

Ryan Delaney
/
WRVO
Marines raise a flag at Syracuse's city hall to commemorate the branch's 239th birthday, which is Nov. 10.

New York’s senior senator wants members of the military screened for mental health problems more often in an effort to stem the military’s high suicide rate.

Right now, members of the armed services are screened for mental health problems before and immediately after deployment to combat zones.

"The screenings are better than nothing and they’re an important component in the military’s efforts to lower the suicide rate," Sen. Charles Schumer said. "But it’s not enough, and it fails to address some of the mental health issues in a large group of members."

Schumer wants to see service members screened annually after their active duty. And Schumer says even military members who aren’t deployed to combat should be screened every year. 

"The suicide rate among veterans and service members is going up at a rapid rate," he said. "Every suicide is one too many after a brave man or brave woman has served us and risked their lives for us."

Schumer is promoting the Jacob Sexton Military Suicide Prevention Act. Sexton was 21 years old when he killed himself while on leave to his home in Indiana in 2009.

There are versions of the bill currently in the House and Senate. It has a good chance of passing in the new Congress in January, Schumer said. 

Celebrating Marines

The senator attended Syracuse’s marking of the Marine Corp’s birthday Monday to push for the bill.

There, active and retired members of the Marine Corps in central New York commemorated the military branch’s 239th birthday.

The day before Veterans Day, Syracuse held a ceremony at city hall to mark the founding of the United States Marines. Congress enacted the branch on November 10th, 1775.

Marine Capt. Nikolaos De Maria noted the Marine’s mission of both combat and humanitarian aid. 

"For 239 years, we’ve answered our nation’s call," he said. "The call to go to war, the call to come to the aid of little recognized foreign countries, and the call to claim the title Marine."

The Marine’s flag, made up of a globe, anchor and eagle, few above city hall yesterday.