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Crist Urges VA to Hire More Mental Health Professionals

Veterans | Mental Health | Health Care

The rate of mental health diagnoses among active duty military and veterans has dramatically increased in recent years, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist said.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Chsrlie Crist, D-St. Petersburg, has introduced a resolution urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to prioritize the hiring of mental health professionals to better serve veterans.

“We have a duty to provide the brave men and women who served our country with the best care possible. We are falling short of this responsibility – particularly when it comes to mental health care,” Crist said.  “Too many service members are returning home with PTSD and other service-related mental health concerns. And too few mental health professionals are there to help them.  The VA must take immediate action to correct this wrong, better treating the invisible wounds of our veterans.”

In recent years, the rate of mental health diagnoses among active duty military and veterans has dramatically increased, Crist said. Between 2001 and 2011, a total of 936,283 servicemembers and veterans were diagnosed with at least one mental disorder over, with nearly 49 percent being diagnosed with more than one mental disorder. The Veterans Crisis Line has answered almost two million calls since 2007; 250,000 chats since chat service was added in 2009; and 44,000 texts since text-messaging service was added in 2011.

Crist | Congress | Politics
Charlie Crist

Yet the VA Office of Inspector General identified mental health professionals among the highest vacancies. The proposal, Crist said, would help address the troubling shortage of mental health professionals working for the VA to provide the care our veterans need.

Crist represents the 13th Congressional District, which includes south and mid-Pinellas County.

For information about Crist, go to crist.house.gov.

Charlie Crist | Veterans | Mental Health | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

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