Friday, April 20, 2012

VA is recruiting clergy to help rural veterans

In response to the increasing number of veterans with mental health issues, the Veterans Health Administration has started a program to enlist clergy members to connect with rural veterans and help them find VHA resources, reports Andy Matarrese of the Marine Corps Times. About 30 to 40 percent of new veterans return to rural areas, and they often suffer more health problems because many Department of Veterans Affairs facilities are in urban centers, far from their homes. When rural veterans seek help, they often turn to ministers, Matarrese reports.

The VHA wants to take advantage of that trend. It is hosting five workshops in Southern states in the next few months to train clergy to better understand mental health needs of veterans and the resources offered by VHA. Response from ministers about the workshops has been "overwhelming," said VA psychologist James Goalder. He said since the release about the program was sent, he's received calls from 23 states, four congressional offices, and people in Guam and Uganda. (Read more)

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