Spokane veterans have to wait up to 87 days for mental health help?

Senators tell VA to speed up care for mentally ill vets


BY ROB HOTAKAINEN
11-30-11
MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

WASHINGTON -- Senators gave a public scolding Wednesday to the director of mental health operations for the nation's veterans, saying the federal government must speed up services for those with post-traumatic stress disorder and other afflictions.

Faced with a 34 percent increase in the number of veterans who have sought mental health services since 2006, the Department of Veterans Affairs has not kept pace, said Democratic Sen. Patty Murray.

As a result, too many veterans are waiting far too long to get help, which is leading to a rash of suicides, increased drug abuse and other problems, said Murray, who heads the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Offering an example from her home state of Washington, Murray said veterans seeking psychiatric help in Spokane have had to wait an average of 21 days for an appointment, with a maximum wait time of up to 87 days.

"We need to fix this now," Murray said at a committee hearing that she called to examine the topic.
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