President Barack Obama has ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve mental health care access for veterans and their families.
As part of a national pilot project, the Tomah VA is partnering with a rural health clinic with hopes that more veterans can get the care they need.
The pilot sites were chosen to see how rural community health providers can work with the VA to recruit more staff and reduce long wait times for mental-health services.
Stay informed on the latest news
Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.
In Wisconsin, the Tomah VA is partnering with the Scenic Bluffs Health Center in Cashton.
Scenic Bluffs spokesperson Alana Erickson says veterans living in southwest Wisconsin will have another place to go for mental health care services.
“We’re in such a rural area and transportation issues are hard for veterans, and especially since things are so spread out around here [there’s] not a lot of public transportation. Scenic Bluffs is acting as a geographical location point for those patients that are too far away to get to Tomah. They can come here.”
Kelly Ballard is the deputy county veterans service officer in Monroe County. She says mental health care access has been improving over the years, but there are still many veterans in desperate need of services…
“…especially with all the undiagnosed mental illnesses going around – the PTSD and mental health from these last conflicts. So, the system is very stressed and the amount of appointments just can’t keep up with the need for appointments to get these veterans healthy.”
According to a VA report, another similar pilot project will be expanding to another county in Wisconsin, although it’s unclear where.
The VA declined to comment on this story.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
