Veterans who suffer from service-related issues relating to mental health should find more help on the way. The Department of Veterans Affairs announced a push to hire some 1,600 mental-health clinicians and bolster the mental-health support staff by 300, to handle the rising number of related cases. Hiring should begin within the next six months; hires for hard-to-fill positions should be made by early next year. The VA’s Veterans Health Administration currently employs 20,590 nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers who specialize in mental health. Veterans who need help should contact the nearest VA facility or Vet Center, or call the Veterans Crisis Line at (800) 273-8255 (push 1). The line also can be reached by texting 838255, or visiting www.VeteransCrisisLine.net. A list of locations is available online at www.va.gov.
