April 22, 2012
VA to
Increase Mental Health Staff by 1,900
WASHINGTON –Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki today announced that
the department would add approximately 1,600 mental health clinicians – to
include nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers as well as
nearly 300 support staff to its existing workforce of 20,590 mental health staff
as part of an ongoing review of mental health operations.
“As the tide of war recedes, we have the opportunity, and the
responsibility, to anticipate the needs of returning Veterans,” said Secretary
of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “History shows that the costs of war will
continue to grow for a decade or more after the operational missions in Iraq and
Afghanistan have ended. As more
Veterans return home, we
must ensure that all Veterans have access to quality mental
health care.”
VA’s ongoing comprehensive review of mental health
operations has indicated that some VA facilities require more mental health
staff to serve the growing needs of Veterans.
VA is moving quickly to address this top priority. Based on this model
for team delivery of outpatient mental health services, plus growth needs for
the Veterans Crisis Line and anticipated increase in Compensation and
Pension/Integrated Disability Evaluation System exams, VA projected the
additional need for 1,900 clinical and clerical mental health staff at this
time. As these increases are implemented,
VA will continue to assess staffing levels.
“Mental health services must be closely aligned with
Veterans’ needs and fully integrated with health care facility operations,” said
VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Robert Petzel. “Improving access to mental
health services will help support the current and future Veterans who depend on
VA for these vital services.”
VA will
allocate funds from the current budget to all 21 Veterans Integrated Service
Networks (VISNs) across the country this month to begin recruitment immediately.
Under the leadership of President Obama and Secretary Shinseki, VA has devoted
more people, programs, and resources toward mental health services to serve the
growing number of Veterans seeking mental health care from VA. Last year, VA
provided specialty mental health services to 1.3 million Veterans. Since 2009,
VA has increased the mental health care budget by 39 percent.
Since 2007, VA has seen a 35 percent increase in the number of Veterans
receiving mental health services, and a 41 percent increase in mental health
staff.
VA has
enhanced services by integrating mental health care into the primary care
setting, developed an extensive suicide prevention program, and increased the
number of Veterans Readjustment Counseling Centers (Vet Centers). VA’s Veteran
Crisis Line has received more than 600,000 calls resulting in over 21,000
rescues of Veterans in immediate crisis.
“The
mental health of America’s Veterans not only touches those of us at VA and the
Department of Defense, but also families, friends, co-workers, and people in our
communities,” said Petzel. “We ask that you urge Veterans in your communities to
reach out and connect with VA services.”
To locate the nearest VA facility or Vet Center for
enrollment and to get scheduled for care, Veterans can visit VA’s website at
www.va.gov. Immediate help is available at
www.VeteransCrisisLine.net or by
calling the Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (push 1) or texting 838255.
March 30, 2012
A Look at Grieving for Families, Inmates, Professionals, and those on Death
Row
Authored by Dan Newman PhD
Going well beyond the general case of grief, author Dan Newman examines the
unique loss experienced by the incarcerated, their families, and the countless
professionals involved with prisoners. The author's candid inside view exposes
the countdown experience on death row. This first-hand account reveals delays,
family counselling, the last meal and final visit. The journey continues from
the death house to the execution chamber, where death becomes increasingly real
as the execution hour nears. From the viewing room, Newman witnesses the lethal
injection and the final breath: an intimate portrait of death, and grief behind
bars.
Dr. Newman is a presenter of workshops for Great Lakes Training Associates and
other organizations. His book is available in paperback at
GriefBehindBars.com
and now in electronic format at
Amazon.com. The suggested retail
price is $14.95.
March 22, 2012
Indiana Updates Laws on Spice, K2, Bath Salts
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has signed a law passed by the
recent legislative session that makes the substances widely available at
convenience stores and over the internet illegal to possess, transport or sell.
The new law, which goes into effect immediately, strengthens Indiana’s
ban on dangerous synthetic drugs.
A major provision in the new law says stores still selling
K-2, Spice, and the other illegal substances, can lose their retail licenses for
a year, and employees and customers can be arrested for sale or purchase of
these items.
Another major change is the list of substances is subject to
change at any time, rather than wait for legislative action.
The Indiana State Police will be conducting undercover visits to check
compliance.
The President Pro-Tem of the Indiana State Senate, Senator
David Long, announced last week that a disposal program would be in effect until
March 25, where retailers and individuals could drop off illegal products at
state police posts throughout the state.
The program was established to keep the items out of trash bins and
available to whoever was willing to “dive” for them.
Senator Long emphasized, “this is not an amnesty period as
these products are now illegal to possess.
Retailers should already have these products pulled from their shelves…”
Some of the names these items are marketed as include K2,
Spice, Blaze, Blueberry Haze, Dank, Demon Passion, Smoke, Genie, Hawaiian
Hybrid, Magma, Ninja, Skunk, Ultra Chronic and Voodoo Spice.
Synthetic stimulants have been sold as bath salts under a
variety of names, including Ivory Wave, Red Dove, Vanilla Sky, Eight Ballz, Snow
Leopard, Charlie, White Rush and Pure Ivory.
Great Lakes Training Associates held a workshop with Dr. Dan
Newman earlier this month that concentrated on these and other so-called “new
drugs.” The workshop was video’d and
will be available for purchase later this Spring.
On April 13, police in Noblesville, Indiana arrested a
convenience store operator for possessing and selling "synthetic" drugs. Owner
could lose store license, go to jail. Other arrests are contemplated according
to police.
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Last updated
May 25, 2012
