Smith expects to speak about his experiences Thursday at the committee.
The non-binding document, proposed as a joint resolution for the House of Representatives and Senate, would encourage the Vermont National Guard to reduce stigma surrounding mental health care. The resolution would also recommend federal-level policies, including more training for mental health counselors about military life.
Rep. Mark Higley, R-Lowell, and Rep. Vicki Strong, R-Albany, sponsored the proposal.
It was more than a policy discussion at the House Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs.
"Unfortunately, my family's been through this," said Rep. Tommy Walz, D-Barre. He said his son-in-law died by suicide, and stigma around mental health was one factor.
"He was convinced, whether it was perception or actual, that if he sought help, that would really damage his career in the military," Walz said. "And he firmly believed that."
Moments later, Rep. Mary Morrissey, R-Bennington, reached across the table and took Walz's hand.
Another committee member, Rep. Job Tate, R-Mendon, is a U.S. Navy veteran and reservist. He said he was "pretty confident" that a chaplain had saved a comrade's life by serving as a listening ear outside the chain of command.
"That's a very real thing — is that your fear about your career is huge," Tate said.
Maj. Gen. Steven Cray, adjutant general of the Vermont National Guard, compared suicide to sexual assault and harassment.
On both issues, Cray said, leaders are working to reduce stigma and speak openly.
"We have acknowledged that we're not a perfect organization, and in fact we do have instances of suicide within the Vermont National Guard," Cray said.
One member of the Vermont National Guard died by suicide in 2014, said spokeswoman Capt. Dyana Allen. She said the Guard does not track veterans' numbers.
The Burlington Free Press reported in October that nine members of the Vermont National Guard had died by suicide in the years after Sept. 11, 2001.
Cray said the Guard seeks a culture that "mental health is a medical condition like a broken arm or a bad back or something that needs attention, that you need trained, qualified mental health professionals to be able to deal with."
The adjutant general welcomed the resolution, but he questioned the language that would direct the Guard to "increase educational efforts related to mental health care services in order to reduce both the existing stigma ... and to lower future suicide rates."
"To increase educational efforts in some regards implies that we would either have to have more resources or more federal oversight," Cray said, "so maybe I see it more as, we continue to emphasize the awareness of it."
Both the Army and the Air National Guard have full-time mental health counselors supplied by the Department of Defense, Cray said. The federal government also provides training and resources and encourages leaders to address the issue with soldiers.
The committee is scheduled to hear from additional witnesses Thursday, including the founder of Vermont Vet-to-Vet, a representative of the Burlington Lakeside veterans adminisatration clinic and representatives of the offices of U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Rep. Helen Head, D-South Burlington, chairwoman of the committee, said she wanted to "dig down" into the issue during committee discussion.
"While resolutions are symbolic, I think they can also lead to change," Head said. "I'm of the belief that when you get people who are concerned about a problem to talk about it, you can often see paths and opportunities to address it that you wouldn't otherwise."
Contact April Burbank at (802) 660-1863 or aburbank@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AprilBurbank
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