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By: FEDweek StaffSpurred by a media report that many veterans are canceling mental health-related appointments with the Department of Veterans Affairs, lawmakers are asking VA Secretary Denis McDonough to take action and remedy the situation.
“Veterans who take the step to schedule behavioral health care are often doing so because they are in critical need of support. Yet, far too many often appointments are canceled or rescheduled with little or no warning,” Reps. Michael Waltz, R.-Florida, and Marilyn Strickland, D.-Washington, wrote in a letter to McDonough that was cosigned by nine colleagues.
Their concern was spurred by a recent report by Military.com that detailed the situation.
The lawmakers called for McDonough to:
· Do a better job of recruiting and retaining mental health providers.
· Streamline the appointment management system.
· Ensure continuity of care.
“Far too often, veterans report being shuffled between providers, experiencing frequent cancellations, or receiving unclear communication regarding the status of their appointment,” the lawmakers wrote. “We are asking [VA] to provide us with their plan to take immediate action in the following areas.”
VA Resources
“Over 1.7 million Veterans received mental health services at VA last year. Our services range from peer support with other Veterans to counseling, therapy, medication, or a combination of these options. Our goal is to help you take charge of your treatment and live a full and meaningful life.”
– https://www.va.gov/health-care/health-needs-conditions/mental-health/
How do I talk to someone right now?
Find out how to get support anytime, day or night.
If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, connect with our caring, qualified Veterans Crisis Line responders for confidential help. Many of them are Veterans themselves. This service is private, free, and available 24/7.
To connect with a Veterans Crisis Line responder anytime day or night:
Call 988 and select 1.
Start a confidential chat.
Text 838255.
For TTY, call 711 then 988.
You can also:
Call 911.
Go to the nearest emergency room.
Go directly to your nearest VA medical center. It doesn’t matter what your discharge status is or if you’re enrolled in VA health care.
Find your nearest VA medical center
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