VA, AMVETS Announce Mental Health Initiatives

The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a pilot telehealth program that will give veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder remote access to psychotherapy and related services. The psychotherapy is delivered by interactive video from a VA medical center to the veteran’s home or one of 12 community-based outpatient clinics across the country. “We are excited to see this program help greater numbers of veterans living in rural areas and pleased that it will save them time and effort to get to a VA facility that is far from their homes,” said VA Secretary David Shulkin, M.D. In other news, AMVETS and VA announced a program that will work with the VA and community providers who serve veterans to help coordinate mental health care for veterans who face barriers to access or have trouble navigating the VA health care system.