The Wall Street Journal (2/4, Kesling, Subscription Publication) reports that yesterday, the US Senate unanimously passed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act. The measure now goes to President Obama, who is expected to sign it.

The New York Times (2/4, A14, Oppel, Subscription Publication) reports that the legislation, named for Marine Sgt. Clay Hunt, who committed suicide after leaving the service, aims “to improve suicide prevention and mental health treatment programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs.” Recent government data indicate that “an estimated 22 veterans kill themselves every day.” Even though “many are older veterans, a survey by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America — which had made the Clay Hunt bill a centerpiece of its efforts to prevent veteran suicides — found that two out of five of its members knew a recent combat veteran who had committed suicide.”

Related Links:

— “Preventing Suicides Among Veterans Is at Center of Bill Passed by Senate,” Robert A. Oppel Jr., New York Times, February 3, 2015.

The Wall Street Journal (2/2, Ward, Subscription Publication) reports that a study published in the Journal of Economic Psychology suggests that making a charitable donation may result in an improvement in the emotional and physical well-being of the donor. The study was conducted by Baris K. Yörük, an associate professor of economics at the University at Albany-SUNY, and colleagues.

Related Links:

— “Does Charitable Giving Lead to Better Health?,” Lisa Ward, Wall Street Journal, February 1, 2015.

In continuing coverage, Modern Healthcare (1/31, Johnson, Subscription Publication) reported that “behavioral health stakeholders are…uniting behind a bill first introduced in 2013 by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), a psychologist who spent more than a year holding hearings on mental illness after the Sandy Hook shootings.” But, even though “many professional and patient-advocacy groups back the measure, others fear the proposal will shift the focus away from relying on community-based mental healthcare” professionals “and undermine the years put into deinstitutionalizing” Americans with mental illnesses. HR 3717 would also “earmark $40 million for the National Institutes of Health’s Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies initiative, which seeks to identify the molecular pathways of mental illness and dementia.”

Related Links:

— “Mental healthcare legislation gives boost to inpatient care,” Steven Ross Johnson, Modern Healthcare, January 31, 2015.

In continuing coverage, the Wall Street Journal (1/31, Kesling, Subscription Publication) detailed the veterans’ suicide-prevention bill named for former Marine Sgt. Clay Hunt. The measure would help veterans with mental health problems get help sooner, would enable them to have access to support following separation from military service, and provide the VA with the ability to hire more mental healthcare professionals. Also included in the measure is up to $30,000 annually in student loan forgiveness for psychiatrists who decide to work for the VA.

The AP (2/2, Daly) reports today, the US Senate “is expected to take up” the measure, which is “aimed at reducing a wave of suicides that claims the lives of 22 veterans every day.” If the Senate passes the bill as expected, it goes to President Obama for his signature.

Related Links:

— “Congress Moves to Bolster VA’s Mental-Health Services,” , Wall Street Journal, January 31, 2015. [Subscription/Login Required]

On its front page, the New York Times (1/29, A1, Belson, Subscription Publication) reports that a study published online Jan. 28 in the journal Neurology suggests that “NFL retirees who began playing tackle football before they turned 12 were at increased risk of developing memory and thinking problems compared with players who began when they were 12 or older.” While “both groups scored below average on many memory and cognitive tests…there was a roughly 20 percent difference between the two groups on several measures.”

The Washington Post (1/29, Hobson) reports, “While the study’s authors cautioned their subject group was limited – all former NFL players who have complained of cognitive, behavioral or mood problems – their findings suggest football is unsafe for children.” One of study authors said, “This study supports the idea…that there may be later life consequences associated with childhood exposure to repetitive head impacts.” He added, “Regardless of the results, it makes logical sense that children whose brains are rapidly developing should not be hitting their heads over and over again.”

The AP (1/29, Golen) reports that the study has limitations in that “it only looked at former NFL players; the conclusions cannot be generalized to a broader population.”

Related Links:

— “To Allay Fears, N.F.L. Huddles With Mothers,” Ken Belson, New York Times, January 28, 2015.