The Issue: Embedded
Mental Health Care Providers for the National Guard
Immediate Action Required: Contact
your Senators and Representatives and urge them to co-sponsor S. 325/H.R.
948, The Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act of 2011
Recently, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Claire
McCaskill (D-MO) introduced The Embedded Mental Health Providers for
Reserves Act of 2011, S.325, which would require the Service
Secretaries to provide any member of the reserve components performing
inactive-duty training during scheduled unit training assemblies access to
mental health assessments with a licensed mental health professional on the
premises of the principal duty location. The companion House bill is H.R.
948, introduced by Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA).
As Guardsmen reintegrate into their civilian communities, many show no
signs of physical injury but suffer from the psychological effects of
traumatic stress requiring treatment. These psychological effects may range
in severity from behavioral readjustment concerns to post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), with some conditions not manifesting themselves until
months or even years after returning from deployment. Early referral
and treatment of behavioral and PTSD issues are essential for better
outcomes.
With the majority of our returning Guard veterans subject to future
deployments, it is essential both for reintegration and future medical
readiness that they have convenient access to mental health care providers
in a command-supported local setting. As states with pilot programs have
shown, embedded mental health counselors would help generate self referrals
and mitigate the stigma associated with National Guard members individually
seeking mental health counseling. Using the National Guard and
Reserve as an operational force requires a fully funded mental health
readiness care program during dwell time to maintain an important component
of medical readiness.
Both S.325 and H.R. 948 would ensure stigma-free and convenient access
to mental health care professionals at unit armories during duty hours with
full confidentiality. It would also provide needed behavioral health
support training at the unit level.
TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTION:
By using the “Write to Congress” feature on
the NGAUS Web site at www.ngaus.org/writetocongress,
you can IMMEDIATELY e-mail your elected representatives. A sample
letter is included in our “Write to Congress” feature. You can e-mail the
pre-written message or edit the sample letter as you desire. This is
the quickest and most effective method of expressing your views to
Congress. Also, contact your friends and family and urge them to
"Write to Congress" as well. For more in-depth information and
background visit our web site at www.ngaus.org.
Please direct any questions concerning this issue to Pete Duffy, NGAUS
Deputy Legislative Director: pete.duffy@ngaus.org,
or Kevin McColaugh, NGAUS Legislative Affairs Manager: kevin.mccolaugh@ngaus.org/
