VA to add about 1,900 to mental health staff
By ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press – 4 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Veterans Affairs said Thursday it was increasing its staff of mental health workers by roughly 1,900, part of an effort to address a shortage of specialists and to better prepare for the medical needs of veterans returning home from war.
The department plans to add about 1,600 clinicians, including psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers and professional counselors, and about 300 support staff to an existing mental health staff of roughly 20,590.
"As the tide of war recedes, we have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to anticipate the needs of returning veterans," VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said in a statement. "History shows that the costs of war will continue to grow for a decade or more after the operational missions in Iraq and Afghanistan have ended. As more veterans return home, we must ensure that all veterans have access to quality mental health care."
The new hires follow a months-long VA review that determined shortages in mental health staff nationwide, leading veterans in some areas to wait longer than they should for treatment, VA Under Secretary for Health Robert Petzel said in an interview. Recruitment is expected to begin soon, and the VA plans to attract specialists from the military, the private sector and fresh out of school, Petzel said.
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