§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, and before a member leaves active duty under section 1145(a)(5)(A). These checks apply to every member of the regular armed forces and every member of the Selected Reserve. The checks must follow the rules in subsection (c)(1) of section 1074m and must include a review of the member’s health records tied to prior assessments or other relevant service activities, as the Secretary decides. If a member already had a mental health assessment under section 1074m in the same year, the Secretary does not have to repeat it. The Secretary may also count other in-person or periodic health exams, including exams under section 1074f, as meeting this requirement if they meet the standards. Any medical or personal information from these checks must be kept private under applicable privacy laws. The Secretary of Defense, with the other administering Secretaries, must create rules to run this program.