WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability office highlights barriers faced by veterans in need of mental health services who live in rural areas.
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Wounds from the battlefield aren’t always visible for veterans once they return home.
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For years, Congress has heard first-hand testimony from veterans about mental health struggles.
“I know of countless suicide attempts,” Army combat veteran Nick Armendariz said in a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing. “Four men with whom I served were lost to suicide.”
The Veterans Health Administration gives intensive mental health care for veterans with serious mental conditions like schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder.
However, not all veterans can easily access that care.
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The USGAO’s report highlights challenges with living far away from the nearest VA health care facility, and staff shortages at clinics in remote areas.
VA Mental Health: Additional Action Needed to Assess Rural Veterans' Access to Intensive Care https://t.co/1jaGKI5GKu
— U.S. GAO (@USGAO) February 9, 2023
The report says data shows rural veterans are using intensive mental health care programs at lower rates than those living in urban places. It also points to gaps in how the VA tracks that data.
It says while the department analyzes things like wait times and patient-to-staff ratios, it doesn’t have a system to compare the effectiveness of the mental healthcare programs for veterans in rural areas with veterans in urban areas.
That means it doesn’t have a complete understanding of the difference in mental health care access based on where veterans live.
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The report calls on the VA to factor in the location of vets when assessing whether there is enough mental health care treatment available, and if it’s accessible.
The report goes on to say the Veterans’ Administration agrees with the recommended changes. The department says it’s working on making changes to better understand the mental health care needs and barriers for rural veterans.
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