§1074n Annual Mental Health Assessments for Members of the Armed Forces

Summary

The Secretary of Defense must give a person-to-person mental health check at least once each calendar year to every member of the regular armed forces and every member of the Selected Reserve. The check must also happen before a service member leaves active duty under section 1145(a)(5)(A). The checks must follow the rules in section 1074m(c)(1) and must include a review of the member’s military health records about past assessments and other relevant service activities. If a member already got a mental health assessment under section 1074m that year, the Secretary does not have to give another one. The Secretary may count other in-person health exams, including those under section 1074f, as meeting this requirement if they meet the same standards. Any medical or personal information gathered must be protected by the applicable privacy laws. The Secretary of Defense must write rules for how this is carried out, after consulting the other military Secretaries.