The U S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and its partner mental health providers have kept thousands of veterans in treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic through telehealth appointments, The Associated Press reported May 11 But as job losses and increased social isolation take an extended toll, some veterans' advocates worry the already understaffed VA medical facilities can't keep up and that telehealth isn't enough The VA on May 8 kicked off a ?Now Is the Time? campaign aimed at alerting veterans and their families to the mental health resources that are available to them But veterans' advocates still are waiting for a report by a White House task force established by President Donald Trump last year that was charged with developing a national roadmap to boost mental health care and stem persistently high suicide numbers among veterans, who have been hard hit in the pandemic Release of the task force report had been scheduled in March but was abruptly shelved due to the outbreak VA Secretary Robert Wilkie told veterans groups in a call last week that the draft report was being finalized but declined to give a release date
Veterans groups, government brace for surge in MH needs