PENNSYLVANIA — As families gathered this weekend to remember the service men and women who gave their last full measure of devotion, Senator Casey visited the Wilkes-Barre VA to call for increased mental health care for veterans across the country. Pennsylvania has one of the highest populations of veterans in the country, and Senator Casey has been a leader in ensuring that they have access to the health care they deserve.
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Sen. Casey: Veterans need greater access to mental health care
By Travis Kellar
PLAINS TWP. — In a speech Friday at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center’s Memorial Day ceremony, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey called for increased access to mental health services for veterans.
“Unlike physical disorders, these struggles often remain invisible to the world,” he said.
Before his speech, Casey spoke briefly at the facility’s Memorial Day celebration. Held outside of the Plains Township hospital, the event was attended by numerous staff members and veterans and included the playing of Taps and a rifle salute.
“We offer special remembrance today for those who didn’t make it back, those who gave as (President) Lincoln said, ‘the last full measure of devotion’, to their country,” Casey said.
In a separate speech inside the facility, the senator stressed the need for increased awareness and resources in making mental health services more accessible to veterans.
“Some of our service members and veterans are struggling with all kinds of challenges … because of their military service,” Casey said, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
Casey said that while progress has been made in providing access to mental health services, it’s an area that has been neglected for many years.
Approximately 11 to 20 percent of veterans from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, Casey said. Daily, he said, 18 to 22 veterans commit suicide.
“We’ve gotta change this reality of American life,” he said. “We know that some will need some intensive help.
Some ideas Casey shared include the 21st Century Benefits Delivery Act, which he said focuses on reducing the backlog of disability claims. In Pennsylvania, he said, it can take claims up to 300 days to receive a response. He added that progress has been made, but it’s “not zero yet.”
He also said the bill authorized more mental health officials in the VA workforce, but added that the House of Representatives has not passed it yet.
David Ragan, president of Vocal Veterans out of Scranton, told the crowd of his own journey as a veteran of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Ragan talked about his deployments to Bosnia and a later deployment to Iraq, the transition back to civilian help and the realization that he needed help.
“It affected every part of my life,” Ragan said of his struggles after his military service.
Casey called for funding for existing programs in place, such as the existing Veterans Crisis Hotline and other mental health programs.
“We were told recently of reports that the Veterans Crisis Line … that some of the calls were going to voicemail,” he said.
He also spoke of legislation called the Veteran PEER Act, which would expand an existing program to match veterans with peers to talk to.
Overall, Casey said, mental health services for veterans should be placed in the “whatever it takes” category.
“We’ve got to do more, and it’s our duty to do this,” he said.
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