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The Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act of 2010, S.3425, introduced by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) 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.
As our members 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 is 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 embedded programs have shown, this 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.
S.3425 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 provided below, 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 http://www.ngaus.org/.
Please direct any questions concerning this issue to Pete Duffy, NGAUS Deputy Legislative Director, at 202-454-5307 or email: pete.duffy@ngaus.org.
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