Vets Back Expanded Family Mental-Health Care

Vets Back Expanded Family Mental-Health Care

Kelly Kennedy


Army Times

Jun 28, 2008
June 27, 2008 - A bill designed to provide mental-health services to family members of service members with non-service-connected disabilities received full support from veterans’ service organizations, as well as the Veterans Affairs Department.

"Many [veterans] are not rated as service-connected because they have not yet applied for benefits, or because of the length of time it takes VA to produce a decision on a claim," said Christopher Needham, senior legislative associate for Veterans of Foreign Wars. He testified June 26 before the House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee on health.

He explained that counseling for family members helps them understand their veteran’s health issues, as well as how to support the veteran through it.

"We have seen with this conflict — especially with mental-health issues — that families are at the forefront of providing care and easing the service member’s transition back into civilian life," Needham said.

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/ArticleID/10526