A recent survey of the Department of Veterans Affairs revealed that despite improvements to mental health care for veterans, the wait times to get access to that care come woefully short of acceptable standards.
Patty Murray, the chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs sent a letter to the VA in October insisting that the department improve to meet the needs of veterans with mental health treatment requests.
The Senate committee requested the survey after a summer hearing in which they heard testimony from veterans and caregivers documenting unacceptable wait times for mental health treatment at VA centers, according to an Oct. 4 press release from the committee.
The survey revealed that 70 percent of the nurses, doctors and social workers who work for the VA say the department does not have enough space or enough staff to handle the cases, according to the Washington Post.
The department mandates no more than 14-day wait times for these cases, but the survey found that more than a third of the respondents said they cannot make that time frame.
Added wait times for mental health care are feared to increase the risk of suicide among veterans. The VA estimated about 18 veterans commit suicide every day, according to the Washington Post.
Committee Chairwoman Murray, D. Wash., and Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr, R., N.C., both expressed concerns after the July hearings that inspired the survey. At the hearing, the testimonials had an impact.
Retired Army Spec. Daniel Williams suffered a brain injury in Iraq and has post traumatic stress disorder. After failing to find psychiatric help, he survived a suicide attempt in 2004 when his gun misfired. He testified at the hearing that when he tried to change his appointment to come to Washington D.C., to testify, he was told it would be four months before he could get a new date, according to the Washington Post.
During the hearing, Sen. Burr said these concerns are not new and “…this is the third hearing in four years conducting oversight examining the gaps that exist in VA’s mental health care program. And yet, gauging from testimony we will hear from the first panel, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.”
Murray’s letter was sent to Dr. Robert Petzel, the VA’s undersecretary for health. She called for immediate attention to the gaps in service to the veterans.
The VA’s response to the report, according to the Washington Post, is that the department “…is taking the findings of this query seriously and is working to better understand where service gaps exist.”
There is not yet any word from the VA about what specific actions might be taken to address the committee’s concerns.
A qualified veterans disability attorney can help a veteran get the mental health care he or she needs. Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC has experienced professionals on staff who have worked in the mental health field. They have experience handling difficult mental health care claims.
James G. Fausone is a Veterans disability lawyer and Veterans attorney with Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC. Learn more at http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com.
