Vets can lead fight on mental health stigma

Vets can lead fight on mental health stigma

By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday May 6, 2010 14:19:52 EDT

As Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., introduced former first lady Rosalynn Carter and her new book about mental health care, he predicted the people who will do the most to improve mental health care and reduce the stigma of getting that care across the nation: veterans.

At the Library of Congress Wednesday, Kennedy spoke of the “signature injuries” of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury — and how veterans talking about and combating stigma for those injuries could normalize mental health issues throughout the country.

As combat veterans grow increasingly comfortable with seeking care, civilians may, too, he said.

“It’s not about an issue,” he said. “It’s about personally wanting to help the people we love.”

Carter was in Washington, D.C., to promote her book, “Within Our Reach,” about the basics of mental health care and how communities could better serve the 25 percent of U.S. adults who deal with anxiety, depression, substance abuse disorders and other such issues every year.
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Vets can lead fight on mental health stigma