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As part of the
proposal, former OTH service members will be able to seek
treatment at a VA emergency department, Vet Center or contact
Veterans Crisis Line, the department said in a statement.
Veterans who receive do not receive an honorable discharge are
not eligible for many Veterans Affairs benefits.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin said suicide
prevention was one of the top priorities for him and U.S.
President Donald Trump.
At an event with veterans last year in Virginia during the
presidential campaign, Trump called for better mental health
services for those returning from combat, saying that while many
are "strong," others "can't handle" what they have seen on the
battlefield.
The department said Shulkin will meet with Congress, Veterans
Service Organizations and Department of Defense officials before
finalizing the plan in early summer.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa
Shumaker)
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