VA Plan Would Provide Every Service Member with Mental Health Benefits
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What’s the story?
Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin said he will send President Donald Trump a proposal that would provide every service member with mental health benefits when they leave the military.
"Suicide prevention is the top clinical priority," said Shulkin. “We’ve expanded our veterans crisis line, we are expanding the number of mental health professionals.”
What does it matter?
- The plan comes in response to President Trump’s executive order, signed in January, which instructed the Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security to collaborate to improve mental healthcare and access to suicide prevention services for veterans.
What else is the VA doing for those struggling with mental health issues?
The VA has announced a partnership with the nonprofit AMVETS to create a mental health initiative called HEAL: health care, evaluation, advocacy, and legislation.
Stars and Stripes explained: "A six-person team of licensed registered nurses, called the HEAL team, will travel across the country to try to intervene with veterans who haven’t sought treatment through the Department of Veterans Affairs but need it." The HEAL team will also “take calls and emails from veterans facing barriers to VA mental health care.”
Carolyn Clancy, the executive in charge of the VA health care system, told the military news source:
"I can’t overemphasize how important it is to have this kind of assistance on the frontlines connecting veterans to our services. Having another veteran from another organization you can trust saying, ‘It’s OK, this is actually a good thing to go do,’ means far, far more than what anyone from the VA could necessarily share. It’s a different source of credibility."
- Veterans and their family members can begin using the HEAL program on March 19th by calling: 1-833-VET-HEAL
What do you think?
Should Trump sign the VA proposal? Are we doing enough for our veterans? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.
—Josh Herman
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(Photo Credit: KatarzynaBialasiewicz / iStock)
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