Though mental health support can literally save the lives of
returning veterans, many must wait years for the help they need.
A new study has determined that vets with mental health
conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression typically must wait an
average of two years after returning from deployment before their mental health
issues are addressed by Veterans Affairs.
"When the vets do begin to receive mental health
treatment, the study also found that care is often fragmented and not as
effective as is needed," commented veterans disability lawyer James
Fausone.
The study, published in the journal Psychiatric
Services in December 2012, looked at vets of the Iraq and Afghanistan
wars between 2001and 2011 processed by Veterans Affairs (VA) medical
centers. These men and women typically
were given with eight sessions of mental health treatment, a number considered
far lower than that in the civilian population looking for PTSD or depression
support, and widely considered "minimally adequate." Seventy-five
percent of vets who went to the VA for support did not even receive what
researchers dubbed "minimally adequate care."
Numerous issues may delay mental health care for veterans,
including the social stigma that still may longer around mental health issues
for some people, including concern that seeking care may jeopardize future job
prospects. The overburdened VA system also means that many vets have long waits
to get appointments for initial assessment; the average wait for a mental
health evaluation at the VA was 50 days, according to a 2012 report from the VA's
inspector general.
The VA has announced that it is adding additional staff and
partnering with community health centers to broaden support for veterans in
their communities; 15 clinics in seven U.S.
But more is needed, say mental health advocates. The VA inspector general's report found that approximately
30 percent of high-risk (i.e., potential suicidal) vets were not receiving the
mandated multiple follow-up mental health visits within 30 days after an
emergency hospitalization. There was no documented contact by the VA of even
reaching out to those vets to remind them of follow-up appointments.
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