President signed order enhancing mental health care for veterans

President Barack Obama signed an executive order directing the US Department of Veterans Affairs to expand suicide prevention efforts and mental health and substance abuse treatment services for veterans and their families.

According to a statement released Friday by the White House, the executive order will direct the VA to increase its veteran crisis line capacity by 50% by the end of the year, ensuring that any veteran who identifies him or herself as being in crisis will be able to connect with a mental health professional within 24 hours.

To increase mental health care access to servicemen, the executive order also directs the VA, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to contract with community health centers, mental health clinics, community substance abuse treatment facilities and additional HHS grantees to reduce VA mental health waiting lists.

The VA has already announced an initiative to hire 1,600 new mental health professionals to serve veterans. According to the Obama Administration, the VA has expanded its mental health services by hiring more than 3,500 mental health professional since 2009.

The executive order will also direct the following:

HHS and VA will develop an initiative to provide mental health services to servicemen living in rural communities.

VA will hire 800 peer-to-peer support counselors.

Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, HHS and Education will cooperate to develop a National Research Action Plan to improve early diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury and PTSD.

Departments of Defense and HHS will conduct a comprehensive mental health study on PTSD, traumatic brain injury and related injuries to develop better prevention, diagnosis and treatment options.