Senator Patty Murray (above) is the Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and her office issued the following last week:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Contact: Murray Press Office
(202) 224-2834
VETERANS: Senator Murray Proposes Major Mental Health Care Expansion as Part of Defense Authorization Bill
Murray's
amendment would make improvements to ensure that those who served have
access to consistent, quality behavioral health care
Would require DoD to create a comprehensive, standardized suicide prevention program
(Washington,
D.C.) – As it becomes increasingly clear that the Pentagon and VA are
losing the battle on mental and behavioral health conditions that are
confronting so many of our servicemembers and veterans, Senator Murray
gave a speech on the Senate floor today to offer an amendment to the
defense authorization bill that seeks to improve mental health and
suicide prevention services. The amendment is derived from her servicemembers and veterans mental health legislation, the Mental Health ACCESS Act of 2012, which unanimously cleared the Veterans' Affairs Committee earlier this year. Senator Murray's amendment would require the Department of Defense to create a comprehensive, standardized suicide prevention program; expand eligibility for a variety of Department of Veterans Affairs
mental health services to family members; strengthen oversight of DoD
Mental Health Care and the Integrated Disability Evaluation System;
improve training and education for our health care providers; create
more peer-to-peer counseling opportunities; and require VA to establish
accurate and reliable measures for mental health services.
Key excerpts from Senator Murray's speech:
"I
think everyone in this body knows about, and is distressed by, the
alarming rate of suicide and the mental health problems in our military
and veterans populations. We know our servicemembers and veterans have
faced unprecedented challenges: multiple deployments; difficulty finding
a job here at home; and isolation in their communities. Some have faced
tough times reintegrating into family life, with loved ones trying to
relate but not knowing how. These are the challenges our servicemembers
and veterans know all too well."
"We
must have effective suicide prevention programs in place. It's often
only on the brink of crisis that a servicemember or veteran seeks care.
If they are told 'sorry, we are too busy to help you,' we have lost the
opportunity to help, and that is not acceptable."
"While
the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have taken important
steps towards addressing this crisis, we know more must be done. We know
that any solution depends upon reducing wait times and improving access
to mental health care; ensuring proper diagnosis; and achieving true
coordination of care and information between the Departments."
The full text of Senator Murray's speech:
"Mr.
President, today I am offering an amendment to the defense
authorization bill to improve mental health and suicide prevention
services.
"This language is derived from my Mental Health ACCESS Act, which was unanimously approved by the Veterans' Affairs Committee.
"This amendment is critical legislation that improves how DOD and VA provide mental health care.
"I
think everyone in this body knows about, and is distressed by, the
alarming rate of suicide and the mental health problems in our military
and veterans populations.
"We
know our servicemembers and veterans have faced unprecedented
challenges: multiple deployments; difficulty finding a job here at home;
and isolation in their communities.
"Some have faced tough times reintegrating into family life, with loved ones trying to relate but not knowing how.
"These are the challenges our servicemembers and veterans know all too well.
"But
even as they turn to us for help, we're losing the battle. Time and
time again, we've lost servicemembers and veterans to suicide.
"But
while the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have taken
important steps towards addressing this crisis, we know more must be
done.
"We
know that any solution depends upon reducing wait times and improving
access to mental health care; ensuring proper diagnosis; and achieving
true coordination of care and information between the Departments.
"This amendment would require a comprehensive, standardized suicide prevention program across the DoD.
"It
would require the use of the best medical practices, in suicide
prevention and behavioral health programs to address serious gaps in
the current programs.
"This amendment would expand eligibility for VA mental health services to family members of veterans.
"The amendment would also give servicemembers an opportunity to
serve
as peer counselors to fellow Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and create a
quality assurance program for the historically troubled disability
evaluation system.
"It
would require VA to offer peer support services at all medical centers
and create opportunities to train more veterans to provide peer
services.
"This bill will require VA to establish accurate and reliable measures for mental health services.
"We
must have effective suicide prevention programs in place. It's often
only on the brink of crisis that a servicemember or veteran seeks care.
"If they are told 'sorry, we are too busy to help you,' we have lost the opportunity to help, and that is not acceptable.
"I would like to thank Senator Levin and Senator McCain for their work
on the defense authorization bill, and for their help bringing this amendment to the floor today.
"Thank you Mr. President."
###
Kathryn Robertson
Specialty Media Coordinator
Specialty Media Coordinator
Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray
448 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510
202-224-2834