PUBLIC LAW 109–163—JAN. 6, 2006
119 STAT. 3349
(B) The individuals appointed to the task force from outside the Department of Defense shall include— (i) an officer or employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (ii) an officer or employee of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services. (5) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—All appointments of individuals to the task force shall be made not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (6) CO-CHAIRS OF TASK FORCE.—There shall be two cochairs of the task force. One of the co-chairs shall be designated by the Secretary of the Defense at the time of appointment from among the Department of Defense personnel appointed to the task force. The other co-chair shall be selected from among the members appointed from outside the Department of Defense by members so appointed. (c) ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months after the date on which all members of the task force have been appointed, the task force shall submit to the Secretary a report containing an assessment of, and recommendations for improving, the efficacy of mental health services provided to members of the Armed Forces by the Department of Defense. (2) UTILIZATION OF OTHER EFFORTS.—In preparing the report, the task force shall take into consideration completed and ongoing efforts by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve the efficacy of mental health care provided to members of the Armed Forces by the Departments. (3) ELEMENTS.—The assessment and recommendations (including recommendations for legislative or administrative action) shall include measures to improve the following: (A) The awareness of the potential for mental health conditions among members of the Armed Forces. (B) The access to and efficacy of existing programs in primary care and mental health care to prevent, identify, and treat mental health conditions among members of the Armed Forces, including programs for and with respect to forward-deployed troops. (C) Identification and means to evaluate the effectiveness of pilot projects authorized by section 722 with the objective of improving early diagnosis and treatment of post traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions. (D) The access to and programs for family members of members of the Armed Forces, including family members overseas. (E) The reduction or elimination of barriers to care, including the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health related conditions, and the enhancement of confidentiality for members of the Armed Forces seeking care for such conditions. (F) The awareness of mental health services available to dependents of members of the Armed Forces whose
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