EXECUTIVE ORDER 01.01.2023.18

Preventing Suicide Among Military Service Members, Veterans and Their Families

A. The Secretary of Health and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or their respective designees (the “Secretaries”), shall jointly lead Maryland’s efforts to prevent suicide among service members, veterans and their families.

B. The Secretaries of Health and Veterans Affairs shall convene an annual meeting at a time and place to be determined, to discuss and assess the State’s efforts to prevent suicide among service members, veterans and their families.

C. Within 30 days of the issuance of this Executive Order, the Secretaries of Health and Veterans Affairs shall conduct a review of the State’s short term suicide prevention strategy to identify any necessary adjustments.

D. Thereafter, in cooperation and in consultation with the appropriate State Agencies, the Secretaries shall launch a statewide “Ask the Question” campaign to provide standardized tools to all State Agencies, local governments, private sector entities, and non-profit organizations to screen constituents and customers for a military service connection in order to provide opportunities for appropriate referrals and assessment for suicide risk.

E. The Secretaries shall, though outreach and other appropriate means, elevate awareness of available funding for Maryland counties to advance goals set forth in the Governor’s Challenge, including developing a coordinated intervention plan to respond to service members, veterans, and their families experiencing mental health crises, and help identify counties ready to implement the Challenge.

F. The Secretaries shall engage with the VA and SAMHSA to facilitate community and State-level efforts to prevent suicide by service members, veterans, and their families, using all available resources.

G. Every agency, department, office, division, or public authority of the State shall cooperate with the Secretaries, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall furnish such information and assistance as the Secretaries determine is reasonably necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Executive Order.

H. This Executive Order shall be implemented in a manner that is consistent with all applicable statutes and regulations. Nothing in this Executive Order shall operate to contravene any State or federal law or to affect the State’s receipt of federal funding.

Effective Date: November 9, 2023.