Assemblyman Brian Manktelow (R,C-Lyons) joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers, veteran advocates and local leaders today at the New York State Capitol to highlight the urgent need for expanded mental-health resources and suicide-prevention efforts for veterans, service members and first responders.

The press conference focused on the mental-health challenges facing veterans and the importance of early intervention, peer support and sustained state action to save lives. Manktelow also spoke about his own legislative work on the issue and his ongoing push to make sure New York is not just talking about veteran suicide but actively tracking and addressing it.

Legislation highlighted at the press conference included:

• A.2504 – Providing $10 million to help veterans’ organizations build, repair and modernize their facilities.
• A.5408 – Creating a state mental-health app connecting veterans, service members, law enforcement and first responders to critical support resources.
• A.6037-A – Establishing a peer-to-peer support program so veterans can help fellow veterans navigate mental-health challenges.

“Veterans have given everything in service to our country. We have a responsibility to ensure they never feel alone when facing mental-health challenges. Today, we voiced that this is not a partisan issue, it’s a human one. Expanding access to care, strengthening peer support and investing in the organizations that serve veterans can and will save lives. If we are serious about honoring their service, then we must be just as serious about standing beside them when they come home. Suicide is something no family should have to endure. It’s why I worked to pass legislation requiring New York state to track veteran suicide data. Those bills were signed into law, but passing a law is only the first step; we need to make sure information is being used to drive real prevention efforts,” said Manktelow.

During a recent Joint Legislative Budget Hearing, Manktelow questioned the state Commissioner of Veterans’ Services about the status of that data, how it is being used in a statewide suicide-risk assessment study and what specific funding is dedicated to veteran suicide prevention. He also raised concerns that critical veterans’ programs are routinely reduced in the executive budget, only to be restored later through legislative action.

“We hear every year about the importance of supporting our veterans, but the numbers matter, the funding matters and consistency matters. We shouldn’t have to fight year after year just to keep proven veterans’ programs alive. Our veterans and their families deserve stability, transparency and a system that is fully committed to their well-being,” said Manktelow.