Senator Pushes for Overhaul of VA Suicide Prevention Algorithm

Senator John Tester, chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, has introduced a bill to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs’ suicide prevention algorithm. An investigation by The Fuller Project and Military Times revealed that the current system prioritizes white male veterans while overlooking risk factors affecting female veterans, including military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence.

Algorithm Fails to Address Female Veterans’ Suicide Risks

Military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence are excluded from consideration. The VA’s algorithm, which directs suicide prevention outreach, has been criticized for giving preference to male veterans, particularly those who are divorced or widowed. However, it fails to account for factors like military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence, which are known to increase suicide risk among female veterans. Sen. Tester’s bill would require these factors to be included within 60 days of the law’s passage.

Female Veterans Face Increasing Suicide Rates

Government data reveals a sharp rise in suicides among female veterans. Recent government statistics show that the suicide rate among female veterans rose by 24% between 2020 and 2021, a rate four times higher than that of male veterans. Additionally, this increase was ten times greater than the rise in suicides among women who never served in the military, highlighting the urgent need to address this disparity in suicide prevention efforts.

VA Defends Current Prioritization, Promises Updates

Officials maintain focus on male veterans but work on algorithm improvements. VA officials have defended their focus on white male veterans for outreach, citing the still higher suicide rate among males. However, the department is working to update its algorithm to include factors that disproportionately affect women, such as pregnancy complications and military sexual trauma. The VA plans to deploy an updated algorithm by early 2025.

Veterans Groups Call for Faster Action

Veterans organizations support Tester’s bill push for quicker reforms. Veterans advocacy groups, including Disabled American Veterans, support the proposed legislation, urging the VA to move faster in addressing these disparities. Naomi Mathis, an assistant legislative director and Air Force veteran, emphasized the prevalence of sexual violence among female veterans, noting that a third report is experiencing sexual activity against their will while in service.

Algorithmic Bias in AI Under Scrutiny

AI systems often favor white men, prompting calls for transparency. The issue of bias in AI systems has become a growing concern, with many algorithms found to favor white men systematically. Both former President Trump and President Biden issued executive orders promoting transparency and accountability in AI, but the challenge remains in understanding these self-teaching systems. The VA has over 100 programs affected by these orders and is working to ensure fairer, more inclusive algorithms moving forward.

This Story is Adapted from a story by Aaron Glantz, military news