According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, depression and PTSD are also among the most common mental health concerns for veterans. They estimate about 15 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD. They are also at a higher risk for addiction with roughly 20 percent believed to turn to drugs and alcohol within the first three months of returning home.
The Department of Veteran Affairs is hoping to make resources more available for people struggling with their mental health.
“Really it’s more about just education and more access to veterans, specifically when it comes to suicide prevention and veterans in crisis,” Johnathan Elliott from the Olin Teague VA Hospital in Temple said.
Starting January 2023, veterans now have access to free emergency mental health care at any VA hospital or clinic.
“A lot of times community hospitals, there were questions and different things along those lines,” Elliott explained. “Now it’s really just getting them in, assessed and able to move forward or at least on the right track.”
The department estimates of the roughly 18 million veterans living in America only half are enrolled in their benefits. This new policy will cover all veterans, even those who aren’t enrolled.
Read more at KXXV.com.
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