Mental health funds sought: Post-traumatic stress, other disorders afflict

[NVMojo]

WASHINGTON -- Many soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are struggling with the transition to civilian life, say lawmakers who want Congress to give more funding for veterans' mental health services.

Rep. Lane Evans. D-Ill., introduced legislation in April that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to add more clinical teams, family therapists and other full-time staff at veterans health facilities.

"If estimates hold, we can expect at least 17 percent of those men and women returning from deployment in Iraq to have a post-deployment mental health issue," Evans said. "We need to be quicker in intervening with those service members now deployed."

One out of four veterans treated at Veterans Affairs hospitals in the past 16 months have been diagnosed with mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and general anxiety, according to a New England Journal of Medicine study released in March.

more...

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/May-05-Thu-2005/news/26437695.html

[LynnTheDem]

1. No can do! Bill for $ for VA; EVERY R voted NAY; EVERY Dem voted YEA.

The repugs already spoke.

EVERY REPUBLICAN VOTED NO FOR FUNDING VA HOSPOTALS FOR IRAQ VETERANS.