Herseth Sandlin discusses mental health issues for vets

Herseth Sandlin discusses mental health issues for vets
By Peter Harriman
pharrima@argusleader.com
PUBLISHED: February 29, 2008

The U.S. faces a looming mental health crisis associated with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to comments made during a roundtable discussion with Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin today.

Herseth Sandlin says she is frustrated that Congress and high ranking veterans health officials are not doing more creative thinking to deal with it.

In a 90-minute session covering education benefits, timely payments and various other issues for recent military veterans, more than an hour was devoted to anecdotes about shortcomings in the delivery of mental health services, suggestions how to improve it, and Herseth Sandlin’s inquiries to participants.

Afterwards she said “the focus needs to be on the vet not on the system.” While a veterans health care system concentrated in VA facilities works well for things like getting veterans access to prescription drugs, “with mental health we’ve got to think outside the box and utilize the resources we’re going to make available in Washington to greatest effect,” she said.
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