Cornyn Announces Support For Bill To Enhance Mental Health Care For Troops & Veterans

Press Release

Cornyn Announces Support For Bill To Enhance Mental Health Care For Troops & Veterans

"More must be done now to help active duty personnel and veterans cope with and recover from a growing rate of mental health conditions"

Sen. Cornyn, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced his support for new legislation that would take several important steps to enhance mental health care services for veterans and members of our military returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and major depression have emerged as the prevalent "invisible wounds" for troops returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, many members of the military suffering from these mental health conditions are not seeking medical help or counseling, largely due to the stigma attached to these diagnoses.

The Honoring Our Nation's Obligation to Returning Warriors Act (HONOR Warriors Act), S.3008, introduced by Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., recognizes the prevalence of mental health conditions among returning troops. This bill would, among other initiatives, give active duty personnel access to community-based counseling centers and recruit and train more behavioral health specialists to meet their specialized needs.

"I'm proud to support this timely legislation to bolster outreach and care for active duty personnel and veterans who are suffering from mental health conditions. When it comes to our troops and veterans, we can always be doing more to ensure they are receiving the best in care and benefits. And in the area of mental health, recent reports indicate more must be done now to help active duty personnel and veterans cope with and recover from a growing rate of PTSD and other mental health conditions. The HONOR Warriors Act would take several important steps to reach out to our troops and their families and connect them with the quality services and resources they need to make a full recovery," Sen. Cornyn said.

Background

Recent figures released by the Pentagon indicate the number of troops diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder jumped by roughly 50 percent in 2007. Defense Department officials said nearly 40,000 troops have been diagnosed with the illness since 2003. Officials have estimated that roughly 50 percent of troops with mental health problems don't get treatment because of embarrassment or fear it will harm their careers.

Key provisions of the HONOR Warriors Act:

1. Gives active-duty troops the same access to the community-based counseling centers ("Vet Centers") that our veterans now use for mental health care services.
2. Recruits and train more behavioral health specialists to serve our troops and veterans.
3. Extends survivor benefits to families of military personnel who commit suicide (when a clear link between the military service and the suicide is established).
4. Better prepares our troops for combat through a new approach that focuses on improved prevention, early detection, intervention and treatment of PTSD.
5. Gives veterans that honorably served in combat the health care benefits they earned and ensure the discharge process was fair.

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