New caucus to address vets’ mental health

New caucus to address vets’ mental health

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jan 21, 2010 13:27:19 EST

After a year in which more service members across the military committed suicide than were killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan, four lawmakers have formed a congressional caucus to push for improvements in military and veterans mental health services.

Reps. Michael McMahon, D-N.Y.; Harry Teague, D-N.M.; Phil Roe, R-Tenn.; and Tom Rooney, R-Fla., announced Thursday they are the founding members of Invisible Wounds Caucus in the House of Representatives.

The caucus has two basic goals:

• To promote more awareness of wounds like traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and mental disorders that may not be readily apparent.

• To push for expanded government treatment programs for those suffering from these so-called “invisible” wounds.

In a joint letter to colleagues inviting them to join the caucus, the founders say mental health for combat veterans is “becoming a pressing national issue worthy of our attention.”

“Not doing enough has had a high price paid by our returned service members and those close to them in the form of depression, lower quality of life, economic insecurity, substance abuse, and suicide,” the letter states.
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New caucus to address vets’ mental health