Bush signs bill to prevent veteran suicides

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush has signed into law legislation that seeks to prevent suicides among veterans, Fox News reported Tuesday.

    The Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act is named for Joshua Omvig, a 22 year-old soldier who took his own life in 2005 after an 11-month deployment to Iraq, according to the report.

    The legislation directs the federal government to develop a comprehensive program aimed at reducing suicide among veterans.

    Mandatory training for Veterans Affairs staff would be put in place, and veterans would be offered mental health screening and referrals, at their request, for counseling and treatment.

    Mental health care would be available on a 24-hour basis, including a toll-free hot line, and additional research would be conducted into suicide prevention among veterans, including those who have experienced sexual trauma in the service.

    Family outreach and peer counseling is encouraged under the legislation, with an emphasis on removing the stigma associated with mental illness and promoting skills for veterans in dealing with mental illness.

    The new law came in the wake of growing number of veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.