The purpose of the Council is to provide a mechanism for veterans receiving mental health services to communicate needs and suggestions about the care they receive. The council will provide recommendations to the Chief of Behavioral Health Services.
Members can freely express their views and opinions without fear of reprisal, regarding VA mental health services, to assure that all veterans receive the highest quality of services available to them, from the Department of Veterans Affairs and from the community, enabling them to achieve their greatest degree of independence and physical and mental health.
- Almost one in three veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq confront mental health problems.
- On an average day in this country, suicide claims another 18 veterans.
- Approximately 30 percent of veterans treated in the veterans health system suffer from depressive symptoms, two to three times the rate of the general population.
- More Vietnam veterans have now died from suicide than were killed directly during the war.
- Approximately 40 percent of homeless veterans have mental illnesses.
Here are some links to sites with similar goals as ours:
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration - SAMHSA
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
Department of Veterans Affairs - Mental Health