On March 3, 2009, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (D-MA) testified before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health in support of legislation she introduced earlier this year to improve mental health care for veterans. Her bill, H.R. 785, would create a pilot program to train counselors at higher education institutions to recognize the signs of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
With the influx of veterans entering college programs, due largely to the passage of the Montgomery GI Bill, Rep. Tsongas argued that college counselors and other staff need to be appropriately trained to assist the student-veteran population. H.R. 785 directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide outreach and training to certain college and university mental health centers so that they can more effectively identify and respond to the mental health needs of veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Congressman Cliff Stearns (R-FL), a members of the House VA Committee, questioned whether this bill is duplicative of the grants awarded last year to colleges to establish VA Centers of Excellence. Rep. Tsongas argued that higher education institutions have a larger role to play in support of veterans. The Centers of Excellence were established at only 13 institutions across the country; however, veterans will be using their educational benefits to attend college at many more locations. University counselors can be the first line of guidance for student-veterans who may continue to feel the effects of war after returning to civilian life.
Veterans advocates also testified before the subcommittee, reiterating the fact that health centers at college campuses currently are not prepared to deal with their student-veteran population. Stigma often prevents veterans from seeking mental health care at designated VA centers. It is argued that veterans are more likely to attain mental health care at university health centers where stigma is a significantly reduced concern. For successful transition and reintegration into civilian life, counselors at universities and colleges should be trained to properly handle the issues affecting student-veterans.
Representing the Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Gerald Cross stated that the VA supports the intent of H.R. 785, but there are already sufficient programs in place, including the aforementioned Centers of Excellence; public service announcements that the VA is willing to distribute to college campuses for use; and a suicide awareness training book for faculty and counselors to self-teach ways to handle veteran issues. For further training, it was suggested that college representatives go to VA centers (rather than VA staff to colleges); otherwise staff would be taken away from patient care. The VA prefers that veterans use VA centers as their first choice for mental health care, as their staffs are trained and sensitive to their needs.
CSWE Government Relations staff continues to monitor these issues and advocate for the role of social work in veteran readjustment and mental health service.