According to the Huffington Post (7/4, Wood), veterans who fought in Iraq or Afghanistan are “at risk of a ‘downward spiral’ that leads to depression, substance abuse and sometimes suicide, as Eric Shinseki, secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, said in a recent speech.” Shinseki’s agency, which operates a veterans’ suicide crisis line and “70 mobile outreach vans,” is “making a determined and costly effort to reach those who live in remote areas or who may be unaware of VA services.” The mental health budget for VA and its mental health staff have both increased in recent years. The Post explained that VA is “also expanding its secure teleconferencing facilities and expects this year to provide 200,000 mental health consultations with veterans who lack easy access to its outpatient clinics or outreach vans.”
Related Links:
— “Iraq, Afghanistan War Veterans Struggle With Combat Trauma, “David Wood, The Huffington Post, July 4, 2012.