Senator Patty Murray is the Chair of the Senate Budget Committee and serves on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (which she formerly Chaired). Her office issued the following:
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Murray Press Office
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 (202) 224-2834
VETERANS—MENTAL HEALTH: Murray Concerned That VA and Local Communities Unprepared to Help Veterans in Crisis
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, attended a hearing to examine
mental health and suicide among veterans. According to recent data,
suicide rates have continued to increase among female veterans who use
VA care and among male veterans ages 18-24 who use VA, the rate has
skyrocketed to 79 per 100,000.
“There is no issue as pressing
as providing quality, timely mental health care and suicide prevention
programs to our nation’s heroes. The problem is familiar to all of us,
but the solutions still seem elusive,”
Senator Murray said at the hearing. “Just one suicide, just one veteran in crisis, or just one family struggling to make it through is just one too much.”
Senator Murray’s full remarks as prepared:
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for
holding this hearing today. There is no issue as pressing as providing
quality, timely mental health care and suicide prevention programs to
our nation’s heroes. The problem is familiar to all of us,
but the solutions still seem elusive.
“Twenty-two veterans per day die
by suicide. Rates have continued to increase among female veterans who
use VA care. Among male veterans age 18 to 24 who use VA, the rate has
skyrocketed to 79 per 100,000. And finally, according to
VA’s access data, wait times for new mental health patients are
virtually unchanged -- at 36 days -- over the five months that VA has
provided this data.
“Mr. Chairman, I am very
concerned about whether VA and local communities are prepared with the
resources, policies, and training to help veterans in serious crisis.
When our men and women in uniform have the courage to come forward
and ask for help, VA must be there with not only high quality and
timely care, but also the right type of care to best meet the veteran’s
needs. We must demand progress on each of these areas.
“Mr. Chairman, a few months ago
we passed a VA reform bill to help veterans get into care. It included a
temporary authority to improve access to community providers for
veterans having trouble accessing VA care. However, a recent
report by the RAND Corporation raises serious concerns about whether
private sector providers are ready to give high quality care to
veterans. It suggests we need to do more to expand use of evidence-based
treatments - and much more to help providers understand
the unique needs and culture of servicemembers and veterans. The reform
bill also included critically needed funds to build and strengthen the
VA for the long-term.
“But there will be more needs
going forward. VA must start planning and requesting the necessary
resources now, so it will be prepared to meet the growing demand for
mental health care far into the future. There is clearly much, much
more work to be done.
“Just one suicide, just one
veteran in crisis, or just one family struggling to make it through is
just one too much. So I want to take a moment to thank Mrs. Selke, Mrs.
Pallotta and Mr. and Mrs. Vanata for being here today. It’s
incredibly difficult to talk about these issues. We admire your courage
and your strength for being willing to share your stories with us.
“Thank you, and your family, for your service and sacrifice to our nation.
“Mr. Chairman, I hope as we head
into a new Congress that stories like theirs will continue to be told
as we work together to fulfill the promises we have made to those who
have served. Thank you.”
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Meghan Roh
Press Secretary
Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray
Mobile: (202) 365-1235
Office: (202) 224-2834
