ALCOAST 124/24 - MAR 2024 BRANDON ACT IMPLEMENTATION AND UPDATE TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, COMDTINST 6000.5

R 151208Z MAR 24   MID600117278183U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 124/24
SSIC 6000
SUBJ: BRANDON ACT IMPLEMENTATION AND UPDATE TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH,
COMDTINST 6000.5
A. 10 U.S.C § 1090b
B. Office of the Secretary of Defense Directive-Type
Memorandum 23-005
C. Behavioral Health, COMDTINST 6000.5
1. This ALCOAST provides direction in relation to REF (A) updates
required from the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022 that is
commonly known as the Brandon Act. The Brandon Act was drafted in
response to the death of Brandon Caserta, a U.S. Navy service member
who died by suicide, and resulted from the steadfast advocacy of his
parents and the establishment of a foundation to increase proactive
command support and assistance when service members seek behavioral
health services.
2. While REF (A) expressly applies to the Department of Defense
(DoD), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Coast Guard
(CG) fully support the spirit of the Brandon Act and intend to
implement applicable elements of it to mature our behavioral health
program and reduce suicide-related behaviors in the CG.
3. It is recognized that many CG leaders, as well as most CG
members, are already providing this level of support informally.
REF (B) describes how DoD will implement the Brandon Act; however,
the CG requires a slightly different implementation strategy, and
this policy update will formalize the CG's approach in the above
situations.
4. The new policy requires that when a service member requests
assistance gaining access to behavioral health services, commanding
officers and supervisors (E6 and above) are now required to refer
the member to a behavioral health provider for an evaluation, as
soon as practicable. The recently promulgated Behavioral Health
Playbook includes significant details and support for command
leadership and supervisors on how to handle situations related to
behavioral health and is another good resource to assist in these
types of situations. "So Others May Live" is the CG Rescue Swimmers'
creed and reflects the highest calling of our Service. Each of us
must remain willing and able to do all that is required to save
another's life. Enacting this principle of Service and Safety begins
with how we acknowledge, treat, and care for our shipmates and
families. Each member of the CG family (from most junior to most
senior, Active Duty, Reserve, Auxiliarists and civilian) are trained
and expected to recognize a person in distress and take appropriate
action to ensure a warm handoff occurs whenever needed. The playbook
can be found on the following website:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-
Human-Resources-CG-1/Health-Safety-and-Work-Life-CG-11/

5. The Brandon Act also requires all employees to receive annual
training on identifying individuals who may need a behavioral health
assessment due to a risk of imminent harm to themselves or others,
often referred to as suicide-related behaviors. The Suicide
Prevention mandatory training has been decoupled from the Sexual
Assault Prevention training and can be found on the Learning
Management System (# 100643) as a stand-alone course.
6. In addition, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
and safeTALK training is available to compliment the LMS #100643
training. Class schedules and details can be found on the following
website:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/hswlsc/work-life_division/
SitePages/Work-Life%20Training.aspx

As a further opportunity to help command leadership address these
types of situations, details related to Operational Stress Control
can be found on the following website:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-
Human-Resources-CG-1/Health-Safety-and-Work-Life-CG-11/Office-of-
Work-Life-CG-111/Health-Promotion-Resources/Operational-Stress-
Control/

7. These requirements will be included in the next revision of
REF (C), which will be released within the next year.
8. This message will be cancelled on 14 MAR 2025.
9. POC: CAPT Jerald Mahlau-Heinert, Mental Health Integrator,
Email: jerald.l.mahlau-heinert@uscg.mil, (202) 475-5155.
10. RADM Dana L. Thomas, Assistant Commandant for Health, Safety, &
Work-Life (CG-1K), sends.
11. Internet release is authorized.