{"id":"F2025L00493","name":"Statement of Principles concerning suicide and attempted suicide (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 40 of 2025)","slug":"statement-of-principles-concerning-suicide-and-attempted-suicide-balance-of-probabilities-no-40-of-2","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":106286,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2025L00493-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Statement of Principles concerning suicide and attempted suicide (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 40 of 2025)","content":"![Commonwealth Coat of Arms](image.001.png)\n\nStatement of Principles concerning suicide and attempted suicide (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 40 of 2025)\n\nmade under subsection 196B(3) of the\n\nVeterans' Entitlements Act 1986\n\nCompilation No. 1\n\nCompilation date: 22 September 2025\n\nIncludes amendments: Amendment Statement of Principles concerning suicide and attempted suicide (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 78 of 2025) (F2025L01054)\n\nAbout this compilation\n\nThis compilation\n\nThis is a compilation of the Statement of Principles concerning suicide and attempted suicide (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 40 of 2025) that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 22 September 2025.\n\nThe notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.\n\nUncommenced amendments\n\nThe effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law.\n\nApplication, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments\n\nIf the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.\n\nModifications\n\nIf the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law.\n\nSelf‑repealing provisions\n\nIf a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.\n\nContents\n\n1 Name\n\n2 Commencement\n\n3 Authority\n\n4 Repeal\n\n5 Application\n\n6 Definitions\n\n7 Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates\n\n8 Basis for determining the factors\n\n9 Factors that must exist\n\n10 Relationship to service\n\n11 Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles\n\nSchedule 1 - Dictionary\n\n1 Definitions\n\nEndnotes\n\nEndnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nEndnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\nEndnote 3—Legislation history\n\nEndnote 4—Amendment history\n\n  \n\n1.  Name\n\nThis is the Statement of Principles concerning suicide and attempted suicide (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 40 of 2025).\n\n1.  Commencement\n\nThis instrument commences on 19 May 2025\n\n1.  Authority\n\nThis instrument is made under subsection 196B(3) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.\n\n1.  Repeal\n\nThe Statement of Principles concerning suicide and attempted suicide (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 66 of 2016) (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2016L01149) made under subsections 196B(3) and (8) of the VEA is repealed.\n\n1.  Application\n\nThis instrument applies to a claim to which section 120B of the VEA or section 339 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 applies.\n\n1.  Definitions\n\nThe terms defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary have the meaning given when used in this instrument.\n\n1.  Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates\n    1.  This Statement of Principles is about suicide and attempted suicide and death from suicide and attempted suicide.\n\nMeaning of suicide and attempted suicide\n\n1.  For the purposes of this Statement of Principles:\n    1.  suicide means the act of intentionally killing oneself; and\n    2.  attempted suicide means an attempt to intentionally kill oneself, but which has a non-fatal outcome.\n\nDeath from suicide and attempted suicide\n\n1.  For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, suicide and attempted suicide, in relation to a person, includes death from a terminal event or condition that was contributed to by the person's suicide and attempted suicide.\n\n> Note: terminal event is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.\n\n1.  Basis for determining the factors\n\nOn the sound medical‑scientific evidence available, the Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that it is more probable than not that suicide and attempted suicide and death from suicide and attempted suicide can be related to relevant service rendered by veterans or members of the Forces under the VEA, or members under the MRCA.\n\n> Note: MRCA, relevant service and VEA are defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.\n\n1.  Factors that must exist\n\nAt least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, suicide and attempted suicide or death from suicide and attempted suicide is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:\n\n1.  having one of the following clinically significant disorders of mental health at the time of clinical onset:\n    1.  acute stress disorder;\n    2.  adjustment disorder;\n    3.  alcohol use disorder;\n    4.  anxiety disorder;\n    5.  attention hyperactivity disorder;\n    6.  bipolar disorder;\n    7.  body dysmorphic disorder;\n    8.  brief psychotic disorder;\n    9.  conduct disorder;\n    10.  depressive disorder;\n    11.  eating disorder;\n    12.  gender dysphoria;\n    13.  obsessive-compulsive disorder;\n    14.  oppositional defiant disorder;\n    15.  panic disorder;\n    16.  personality disorder;\n    17.  phobic anxiety;\n    18.  posttraumatic stress disorder;\n    19.  schizoaffective disorder;\n    20.  schizophrenia;\n    21.  substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder;\n    22.  substance/medication-induced psychotic disorder;\n    23.  substance use disorder.\n\n> Note: clinically significant disorder of mental health is defined in the Schedule 1- Dictionary\n\n1.  experiencing a category 1A stressor before clinical onset;\n\n> Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.\n\n1.  experiencing a category 1B stressor before clinical onset;\n\n> Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.\n\n1.  having a person with whom one has a close family bond or a close personal relationship experience a category 1A stressor within the 1 year before clinical onset;\n\n> Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.\n\n1.  experiencing the death of a person with whom one has a close family bond or a close personal relationship, within the 2 years before clinical onset;\n2.  experiencing the death of a parent due to suicide within the 25 years before clinical onset, where the person was aged 18 years or younger at the time of the parent's death;\n3.  experiencing the attempted suicide of a parent within the 25 years before clinical onset, where the person was aged 18 years or younger at the time of the parent's attempted suicide;\n4.  experiencing the suicide of an individual of a similar age, with whom the person has a personal association such as a classmate, within the 2 years before clinical onset, where the person was aged 18 years or younger at the time of the associate’s suicide;\n5.  experiencing the death of a sibling due to suicide within the 15 years before clinical onset;\n6.  experiencing a category 2 stressor within the 10 years before clinical onset;\n\n> Note 1: A category 2 stressor can arise in a variety of circumstances connected with service. Such circumstances can arise during the course of service, as a result of separation from service and the conditions associated with that separation, and in the transition to civilian life in the years following separation.\n\n> Note 2: category 2 stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.\n\n1.  being a perpetrator of bullying within the 2 years before clinical onset;\n2.  having experienced as a child (under the age of 18) one of the following;\n    1.  serious physical, emotional, or sexual harm;\n    2.  neglect involving a serious failure to provide the necessities for health, physical and emotional development, or wellbeing by adults with obligations to provide such necessities;\n\nbefore clinical onset;\n\n1.  performing a self-injurious act, within the 5 years before clinical onset;\n\n> Note: Self-injurious acts may include cutting, burning, hitting or poisoning. The injury is done independently, without the aid of another person, and is severe enough for tissue damage (such as scarring) to result.\n\n1.  having a medical illness or injury which has resulted in a severe level of disability at the time of clinical onset;\n\n> Note: A person with a severe level of disability may need help with some or all activities of daily living (communication, mobility and self-care).\n\n1.  having epilepsy at the time of clinical onset;\n2.  having persistent pain, which is severe enough to interfere with daily living, for at least the 6 months before clinical onset;\n3.  having failed an academic examination or other academic assessment within the 30 days before clinical onset;\n4.  for persons 18 years of age and younger only, commencing a course of antidepressant therapy, or increasing or reducing the dose of that drug therapy, within the 8 weeks before clinical onset;\n5.  taking any of the following medications within the 14 days before clinical onset;\n    1.  benzodiazepines;\n    2.  clofazimine;\n    3.  corticosteroids, other than topical steroids;\n    4.  interferons;\n    5.  montelukast;\n    6.  raltegravir;\n    7.  zolpidem;\n    8.  zopiclone.\n6.  taking mefloquine within the 3 months before clinical onset;\n7.  taking methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) or 4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxy-N-(2-methoxybenzyl)-phenylethylamine (25I-NBOMe) within the 12 hours before clinical onset;\n8.  having a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury before clinical onset;\n9.  having a concussion within the 5 years before clinical onset;\n10.  undergoing bariatric surgery within the 10 years before clinical onset;\n\n> Note: Examples of bariatric surgery include gastrojejunostomy, gastric stapling, vertical banded gastroplasty or gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis.\n\n1.  experiencing intimate partner violence within the 1 year before clinical onset;\n\n> Note: intimate partner violence is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.\n\n1.  inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for suicide and attempted suicide before clinical worsening.\n\n1.  Relationship to service\n    1.  The existence in a person of any factor referred to in section 9, must be related to the relevant service rendered by the person.\n    2.  The factor set out in subsection 9(26) applies only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, suicide and attempted suicide where the person's suicide and attempted suicide was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person's relevant service.\n2.  Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles\n\nIn this Statement of Principles:\n\n1.  if a factor referred to in section 9 applies in relation to a person; and\n2.  that factor refers to an injury or disease in respect of which a Statement of Principles has been determined under subsection 196B(3) of the VEA;\n\nthen the factors in that Statement of Principles apply in accordance with the terms of that Statement of Principles as in force from time to time.\n\nSchedule 1 \\- Dictionary\n\nNote: See Section 6\n\n1 Definitions\n\nIn this instrument:\n\ncategory 1A stressor means one of the following severe traumatic events:\n\n(a) experiencing a life-threatening event;\n\n(b) being subject to a serious physical attack, or assault including rape or sexual molestation;\n\n(c) being threatened with a weapon, being held captive, being kidnapped, or being tortured.\n\ncategory 1B stressor means one of the following severe traumatic events:\n\n(a) killing or maiming a person;\n\n(b) being a witness to a person being killed or critically injured;\n\n(c) being a witness to atrocities inflicted on another person;\n\n(d) witnessing human remains or a critically injured casualty, excluding seeing a closed body bag or viewing a body in an open-casket.\n\n> Note: witness is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.\n\ncategory 2 stressor means one of the following negative life events, the effects of which are chronic in nature and cause the person to feel on-going distress, concern or worry:\n\n(a) being a full-time caregiver to a family member or a person with whom one has a close family bond or a close personal relationship with a severe physical, mental or developmental disability;\n\n(b) being socially isolated and unable to maintain friendships or family relationships, due to physical location, language barriers, disability, or medical or psychiatric illness;\n\n(c) experiencing adverse prejudicial differential treatment or unequal access to opportunities based on membership to a particular sociocultural group (racism);\n\n(d) experiencing a problem with a long-term relationship including the break-up of a close personal relationship, the need for marital or relationship counselling, marital separation, or divorce;\n\n(e) having concerns in the work environment including on-going disharmony with fellow work colleagues, perceived lack of social support within the work environment, perceived lack of control over tasks performed and stressful workloads, or experiencing bullying in the workplace or school environment;\n\n(f) experiencing prejudice or discrimination based on gender, or behaviour or attitudes that foster stereotyped social roles based on gender (sexism);\n\n(g) experiencing serious legal issues including being detained or held in custody, on-going involvement with the police concerning violations of the law, or court appearances associated with personal legal problems;\n\n(h) having severe financial hardship including loss of employment, long periods of unemployment, foreclosure on a property or bankruptcy;\n\n(i) having a family member or a person with whom one has a close family bond or a close personal relationship experience a major deterioration in their health.\n\nclinically significant disorder of mental health means a disorder of mental health which is of sufficient severity to warrant ongoing management.\n\n> Note: To warrant ongoing management does not require that any actual management was received or given for the condition.\n\nintimate partner means a person who is or has been in an intimate relationship with another person.\n\nintimate partner violence means behaviour within an intimate relationship perpetrated by an intimate partner that causes or has the capacity to cause physical, sexual, economic or psychological harm. Examples include, but are not limited to:\n\n1.  violence;\n2.  threats;\n3.  harmful behaviours or threats of harmful behaviours directed towards a child, animal or another adult;\n4.  neglect where there is a relationship of dependence;\n5.  coercion;\n6.  stalking;\n7.  humiliation;\n8.  restriction of access to education, employment or medical care; or\n9.  isolation from family, friends or colleagues.\n\nNote 1: intimate relationship is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.\n\nNote 2: intimate partner is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.\n\nintimate relationship means a relationship that involves emotional and/or physical closeness and interdependence between people. Purely commercial relationships however are excluded from this definition.\n\nMRCA means the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.\n\nrelevant service means:\n\n(a) eligible war service (other than operational service) under the VEA;\n\n(b) defence service (other than hazardous service and British nuclear test defence service) under the VEA; or\n\n(c) peacetime service under the MRCA.\n\n> Note: MRCA and VEA are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.\n\nsuicide and attempted suicide—see subsection 7(2).\n\nterminal event means the proximate or ultimate cause of death and includes the following:\n\n(a) pneumonia;\n\n(b) respiratory failure;\n\n(c) cardiac arrest;\n\n(d) circulatory failure; or\n\n(e) cessation of brain function.\n\nVEA means the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.\n\nwitness means a person who experiences an incident at the time it occurs and can give direct evidence of it. This excludes persons exposed only to public broadcasting or mass media coverage of the incident.\n\n> Note: Endnotes\n\n> Note: Endnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nThe endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.\n\nThe following endnotes are included in every compilation:\n\nEndnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nEndnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\nEndnote 3—Legislation history\n\nEndnote 4—Amendment history\n\nAbbreviation key—Endnote 2\n\nThe abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.\n\nLegislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4\n\nAmending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.\n\nThe legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.\n\nThe amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.\n\nMisdescribed amendments\n\nA misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.\n\nIf a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.\n\n> Note: Endnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\n| ad = added or inserted                         | orig = original                     |\n| ---------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |\n| am = amended                                   | par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)  |\n| amdt = amendment                               | /sub‑subparagraph(s)                |\n| c = clause(s)                                  | pres = present                      |\n| C[x] = Compilation No. x                       | prev = previous                     |\n| Ch = Chapter(s)                                | (prev…) = previously                |\n| def = definition(s)                            | Pt = Part(s)                        |\n| Dict = Dictionary                              | r = regulation(s)/rule(s)           |\n| disallowed = disallowed by Parliament          | reloc = relocated                   |\n| Div = Division(s)                              | renum = renumbered                  |\n| exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | rep = repealed                      |\n| effect                                         | rs = repealed and substituted       |\n| F = Federal Register of Legislation            | s = section(s)/subsection(s)        |\n| gaz = gazette                                  | Sch = Schedule(s)                   |\n| LA = Legislation Act 2003                      | Sdiv = Subdivision(s)               |\n| LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003         | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |\n| (md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment       | SR = Statutory Rules                |\n| cannot be given effect                         | Sub‑Ch = Sub‑Chapter(s)             |\n| mod = modified/modification                    | SubPt = Subpart(s)                  |\n| No. = Number(s)                                | underlining = whole or part not     |\n| o = order(s)                                   | commenced or to be commenced        |\n| Ord = Ordinance                                |                                     |\n\n> Note: Endnote 3—Legislation history\n\n| Name                                                                                                                   | Registration                | Commencement      | Application, saving and transitional provisions |\n| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |\n| Statement of Principles concerning suicide and attempted suicide (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 40 of 2025)           | 16 April 2025F2025L00493    | 19 May 2025       |                                                 |\n| Amendment Statement of Principles concerning suicide and attempted suicide (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 78 of 2025) | 8 September 2025F2025L01054 | 22 September 2025 |                                                 |\n\n> Note: Endnote 4—Amendment history\n\n| Provision affected                                              | How affected      |\n| --------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- |\n| Section 2……………….                                                | rep LA s 48D      |\n| Section 4……………….                                                | rep LA s 48C      |\n| Schedule 1 – Dictionary – intimate partner violence………...…...…. | rs No. 77 of 2025 |\n| Schedule 1 – Dictionary – intimate relationship...              | rs No. 77 of 2025 |\n| Schedule 1 – Dictionary – intimate partner.....….               | rs No. 77 of 2025 |","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument repeals the earlier 2016 Statement and sets out a detailed, expanded enumeration of factors, time windows and named medications/procedures that can establish a service connection for suicide or attempted suicide. Compared to a generic earlier instrument (the 2016 instrument was expressly repealed), this version: (1) lists a comprehensive set of specific mental disorders and substance/medication‑related disorders; (2) defines three stressor categories (1A, 1B, 2) with specific examples; (3) inserts precise timing and age thresholds for family/associate events and medication/medical‑procedure exposure; and (4) explicitly includes death from a terminal event contributed to by suicide/attempted suicide. These additions materially broaden the catalogue of qualifying factors and make the test more prescriptive. The net effect is an expansion and specification of scope — the instrument moves from a higher‑level Statement to one that sets many concrete, time‑bounded evidentiary triggers for establishing a connection to service."},"complexity_factors":["Single instrument replaces prior Statement and cross-references earlier Statements (repeal of No.66 of 2016)","Large enumerated list of factors in section 9 (25+ discrete items including a 21-item mental disorder sublist)","Multiple defined categories with separate definitions in Schedule 1 (category 1A, 1B, 2 stressors)","Numerous time windows and age thresholds (e.g. 12 hours, 14 days, 30 days, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, 25 years)","Explicit lists of specific medicines and procedures with differing look-back periods (section 9(20)–(22), (27))","Nested conditional logic and exceptions (e.g. subsection 10(2) limits application of factor 9(26))","Cross-reference to other Statements of Principles where a factor refers to another injury/disease (section 11)","Multiple defined terms with contextual meanings (clinically significant disorder of mental health; witness; intimate partner violence; terminal event; relevant service; etc.)","Notes and explanatory material within text that affect interpretation (several in sections 9 and Schedule 1)","Amendment history incorporated (Amendment No.78 of 2025) creating potential divergence between compiled text and uncommenced modifications"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)**\n\n- This is a Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA) Statement of Principles made under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986. It replaces the prior Statement on suicide and attempted suicide and sets the medical–scientific criteria that decision makers must use when assessing whether a veteran’s (or eligible member’s) suicide or attempted suicide is connected to their \"relevant service\".\n- It applies to claims that fall under section 120B of the VEA or section 339 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) (see \"Application\").\n- The RMA records its view that, on the balance of probabilities (more likely than not), suicide and attempted suicide can be related to relevant service; the instrument then lists the specific factors that must exist for a connection to be established (see sections 8–10).\n\n**Who this affects**\n\n- Veterans and other former or current members of the Forces whose service qualifies as \"relevant service\" under the VEA or MRCA, and who lodge claims that their suicide or attempted suicide is connected to service.\n- Medical practitioners, claims assessors and tribunal members who must gather, evaluate and weigh clinical evidence against the factors listed in the Statement of Principles.\n- Legal and medical experts (private practitioners) who provide reports and opinions in support of or against claims.\n\n**How the test works (plain terms)**\n\n- The Statement says that for a decision-maker to find, on the balance of probabilities, that suicide/attempted suicide is connected to service, at least one of the listed factors must have been present at the person’s clinical onset (section 9).\n- Those factors include: a long list of clinically significant mental disorders (for example, PTSD, depressive disorder, schizophrenia and various substance- and medication-related disorders); exposure to defined severe traumatic events (category 1A and 1B stressors); prolonged/chronic stressors linked to service (category 2 stressors); close-person events (for example, a close family member’s suicide or attempted suicide within stated time windows); childhood abuse or neglect; serious physical illness or disability; traumatic brain injury or concussion; persistent severe pain; certain recent medication changes or specific medicines taken in prescribed time windows; bariatric surgery within 10 years; intimate partner violence; a history of self-injury; and inability to obtain appropriate clinical management (section 9 and Schedule 1 definitions).\n- Some factors carry time limits tied to when the clinical onset occurred (for example, parental suicide within 25 years where the claimant was ≤18 years at the time; death of a close associate within 2 years; taking benzodiazepines within 14 days of clinical onset) (section 9).\n- A factor only supports a service connection if it is related to the claimant’s relevant service (section 10). One listed factor (the inability to obtain appropriate clinical management) has a restricted application: it applies only to material contribution or aggravation where the suicide/attempted suicide was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service (section 10(2)).\n- If a listed factor refers to another injury or disease that itself has a separate Statement of Principles, the rules in that other Statement apply as they stand (section 11).\n\n**Official rationale (as stated in the text)**\n\n- The RMA states that, based on sound medical–scientific evidence, it is more probable than not that suicide and attempted suicide can be related to relevant service (section 8). The Statement therefore operationalises that view by listing factors that, if present and related to service, establish a connection on the balance of probabilities.\n\n**Practical implications, trade-offs and implementation risks**\n\n- Evidence and timing burden: The instrument depends on clinical onset timing and on medical and other evidence (records of events, witness accounts). Clinical onset can be hard to date precisely for psychiatric conditions, which creates evidentiary disputes about whether a factor was present at the required time.\n\n- Administrative and compliance cost: Decision makers and claimants will need to assemble medical records, expert reports and documentary proof of stressors and life events. That will increase demand for private medico‑legal reports and for clinicians able to give opinions about causation and onset.\n\n- Bright‑line windows and named items: The Statement contains explicit time windows and a short list of specific medications and procedures (for example, benzodiazepines within 14 days; mefloquine within 3 months; particular recreational drugs within 12 hours; bariatric surgery within 10 years). These precise rules reduce some discretion but also create focal points for disputes where dates or prescription records are unclear.\n\n- Relationship-to-service requirement: Every factor must be connected to the person's relevant service. That requires a causal link or a close enough association between the factor and service, leaving scope for interpretive assessment by clinicians and decision-makers.\n\n- Concentrated benefits and diffuse costs: The principal direct benefit is to claimants whose evidence matches one or more listed factors; legal and medical professionals who provide supporting reports may also see increased demand. The cost of accepted claims (compensation, rehabilitation) will be borne by the veterans’ compensation system and ultimately public funds, a diffuse cost spread across the budget out of which entitlements are paid.\n\n- Potential for increased appeals and litigation: Where medical onset, timing or the \"relation to service\" is unclear, claimants or the Department may litigate or seek tribunal review, increasing administrative delay and legal costs.\n\n- Limited effect on private markets generally: The Statement does not regulate business activity, prices, competition or ownership. Its likely market effects are limited to greater demand for clinical and medico‑legal services and to possible increased use of private psychological supports by claimants seeking evidence.\n\n**Implementation discretion and monitoring points**\n\n- The Statement gives the RMA’s scientific view but requires claim assessors to apply those views to individual files; this creates unavoidable discretionary judgments around clinical onset, degree of contribution, and whether a factor is “related to” service (see sections 8–10).\n- The named categories and time windows are renewable targets for future updates: additions, deletions or rewording of stressors, diagnoses or medication lists will materially change outcomes for claims.\n\n**Key sections to consult**\n\n- Which claims are covered: Application (section 5).\n- The required test and list of qualifying factors: Basis for determining factors (section 8) and Factors that must exist (section 9).\n- How factors connect to service: Relationship to service (section 10).\n- Definitions of stressors, mental disorders and timing windows: Schedule 1 – Dictionary.\n\n(Prepared as an analyst’s note. The instrument’s stated purpose is the RMA’s medical‑scientific view that the listed factors can connect suicide/attempted suicide to relevant service; the analysis above describes the instrument’s mechanisms, implementation implications, and where evidence, timing and interpretation are likely to be decisive.)"},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard replacement instrument under the Veterans' Entitlements Act framework. It updates the 2016 version with expanded factors (including intimate partner violence, specific medications like mefloquine, and refined stressor categories) but remains within the original legislative purpose of determining service connection for suicide-related claims. The scope has not expanded beyond the statutory framework established by section 196B of the VEA."},"complexity_factors":["26 distinct causal factors with specific timeframes (ranging from 12 hours to 25 years before clinical onset)","Cross-references to other Statements of Principles for related conditions (section 11)","Multiple defined terms in Schedule 1 Dictionary (category 1A/1B/2 stressors, intimate partner violence, clinically significant disorder, etc.)","Nested definitions (e.g., 'intimate partner violence' refers to 'intimate partner' and 'intimate relationship', which are separately defined)","Specific medication lists with varying time windows (14 days, 3 months, 8 weeks)","Age-restricted factors (factors applying only to persons 18 years or younger)","Dual application framework covering both VEA and MRCA legislation with different service definitions","Conditional logic distinguishing between causation and aggravation (section 10(2))"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument gives the Repatriation Medical Authority the medical rules for deciding—on the balance of probabilities—whether a veteran’s or defence member’s suicide or attempt is related to service. It lists 26 factors (mental disorders, combat/assault/bullying, family trauma, brain injury/epilepsy, medications, etc.) that can establish a service nexus.  \n\nIt affects veterans, current/former defence members and decision-makers because it determines eligibility for compensation and recognition of varied suicide risk pathways."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-suicide-and-attempted-suicide-balance-of-probabilities-no-40-of-2","history":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-suicide-and-attempted-suicide-balance-of-probabilities-no-40-of-2/history","analysis":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-suicide-and-attempted-suicide-balance-of-probabilities-no-40-of-2/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-suicide-and-attempted-suicide-balance-of-probabilities-no-40-of-2/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-suicide-and-attempted-suicide-balance-of-probabilities-no-40-of-2/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-suicide-and-attempted-suicide-balance-of-probabilities-no-40-of-2/documents"}}