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NAMI PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN’S
INFORMATION
NAMI PA ADVISORY COUNCIL
The NAMI Board of Directors considers the emerging problem of veterans
with mental illness to be one of the most serious problems facing
our nation. We have set aside one day at our Annual Conference to
discuss the many issues that families and veterans must face. In
2008 the NAMI Pennsylvania Board of Director’s and it’s
veteran members established a Veterans Advisory Council to assure
close attention is paid to veterans’ mental health issues
in PA and each of it’s four Veterans Integrated Service Network
(VISN).
The NAMI PA Veterans Advisory Council includes:
- Volunteer veterans
- Family members
- NAMI PA Consumer Council Representative
- Friends who have an involvement and interest in issues affecting
veterans.
We advocate for an improved VA continuum of care and for better
access to services and support for veterans with mental illnesses.
| When a soldier deploys, the
whole family serves; when a soldier returns home, the whole
family is impacted," stated Darwin, "Also the families
of National Guard and Reservists are isolated in their communities
during the soldier's deployment, and the soldier is often isolated
upon return and back at a civilian job within a week of being
home.“ Reuters July 21, 2008 |
CHALLENGES TO VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES
There is a need to develop a plan to address veterans and returning
veterans with mental illness.
There is a need for education and training for police officers,
prison guards and others in the criminal justice system.
- VA will serve 5.8 million veterans in 2009.
- In 2002/2003 1.2 million male veterans were identified as suffering
from serious mental illnesses.
- Approximately 340,000 of these individuals had co-occurring
substance abuse disorders.
- These individuals require access to a comprehensive continuum
of services.
- Suicide rates are skyrocketing. One thousand veterans attempt
suicide each month
- Child abuse and/or maltreatment rises by 42 percent in families
where the other parent is deployed
- Problems in relationships are four times higher after a return
from a deployment
- 20 percent of returned married troops are planning a divorce.
- Many veterans with serious mental illness are falling through
the cracks of the veterans system and are increasingly the responsibility
of primary care physicians or local community mental health centers,
esp. in rural regions of the country.
- Moreover, national guard personnel, including those who have
served as active duty military, are not eligible for veterans
medical benefits and thus must rely on community mental health
providers for their treatment and supports.
There is a growing trend to incarcerate the mentally ill
in jails and prisons.
Note: Veterans with mental illness are included in this group.
This places an unrealistic burden on our corrections facilities,
with minimal hope of reducing recidivism. It also places an unrealistic
problem before families and consumers who look for services outside
of the criminal justice system. Increasingly, returning vets with
PTSD and other problems are having encounters with the police. Many
involve domestic issues and alcohol and drug related crimes.
As with any encounter, there is a critical need for first responder
training to understand and deal with the kinds of mental illness
vets suffer from. Current training does not deal with PTSD.
Police need to understand that a veteran with PTSD may react as
he/she would have in the war.
- 25% of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation
Enduring Freedom (OEF) were diagnosed with significant mental
health problems.
- It is important to remember that there are many veterans who
have served in wars and conflicts other than the current war in
Iraq and in Afghanistan who are in need of additional support
and treatment.
- Again, the veterans administration is not able to handle the
demand for services and so many are being served in local community
or state programs.
- Often those providing the service do not have any training specific
to veterans and their needs. These individuals require access
to a comprehensive continuum of services, including:
- Inpatient treatment
- Physician services
- Appropriate medications
- Family education and support
- Residential treatment
- Supported housing
- Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) services
- Integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment
- Intensive case management
- Peer counseling
- Vocational and employment assistance.
Note: These numbers have increased significantly.
Training Recommendations:
There are many cases that show that where the police are not
adequately trained, bad results may occur. Either the person is
killed or at least charged with crimes much more serious than
the underlying complaint.
With proper training and an understanding of the resources in the
county, veterans will receive needed care and not be criminalized
as a result of the effects of war.
It is important to distinguish inadequate training cases that lead
to a bad result from a confrontation where the person is brandishing
a weapon. No rights attach to the person where the police must protect
themselves. The courts distinguish between encounters where the
police have an opportunity to consider options and those where there
is no or little time to think. In cases where the police are inadequately
trained this may lead to a violent encounter. Proper training will
assist both the police and the veteran.
NAMI PA Veteran’s Council training recommendations:
- Officers of the Court including Magisterial District Judges
and District attorney’s.
- Behavioral Health care providers
- Community Psychiatrists and Psychologists
- First responders
- Direct health care service works
- Community health care staff
- Community MH administrative and support staff
- County MH/MR administration and support staff
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