Brandon Act Training and Protocol Act

H.R. 6383, the Brandon Act Training and Protocol Act, would require the Department of Defense to develop a strategic plan addressing suicide and mental health services for active-duty service members. The bill would establish uniform protocols for the self-initiated referral process that allows service members to request mental health evaluations from their supervisors, create a certification process based on training completion, and mandate annual training for military personnel on recognizing signs of mental health distress.

The Brandon Act itself was signed into law in 2021 and allows service members to confidentially request mental health evaluations at any time without needing to disclose reasons to their commanders. This new bill would strengthen implementation of those protections by standardizing how military branches handle these referrals and ensuring personnel receive consistent training on mental health awareness. If enacted, the legislation would aim to reduce stigma around seeking mental health support and improve the military's response to service member mental health crises.