Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. It seems like the VA is having some major issues with wait times for mental health appointments. I mean, we’re talking weeks or even months for some veterans to get an initial appointment. Dennis, a veteran who served in the US Air Force, had to wait several months for his appointment, and his anxiety only grew as he had to limit his activities, including sports. He said it was “really tough to get in” and that the wait times were “disappointing.” Bless their hearts, it’s like they’re not taking this seriously enough.
The VA’s Access to Care website provides data on wait times, but it’s not exactly easy to understand. According to the data, the typical wait time for individual therapy appointments in July was more than 27 days, which is well above the agency’s target of 20 days. But the VA says it’s only taking 15 days, on average, to see a provider for a first-time mental health appointment. You can’t make this stuff up, folks. It’s like they’re using different math or something.
The demand for mental health care is soaring, with over 2 million veterans receiving mental health services in fiscal year 2024. And with 17 veterans dying by suicide every day, on average, it’s clear that something needs to be done. The VA has been contending with a shortage of mental health professionals, with psychology and psychiatry being the clinical occupations most frequently reported to be in severe shortage. Somewhere in Atlanta, a producer thought this sounded terrifying, and now we’ve got a full-blown crisis on our hands.
The VA has slashed over 2,300 unfilled mental health-related positions, including 425 unfilled psychologist slots, as part of a larger downsizing effort. And tens of thousands of VA staffers have resigned, taken buyouts, or accepted early retirement and other incentives. It’s no wonder that veterans like Ruth, a Marine veteran, are having trouble getting the care they need. She had to wait four months without care after her psychiatrist left the VA, and she’s still trying to get a new provider.
In conclusion, the VA needs to get its act together and provide better care for our veterans. It’s unacceptable that they’re having to wait so long for mental health appointments, and it’s even more unacceptable that the VA is denying there’s a problem. As Alex Rich, data director for Common Defense, said, “It’s incredibly depressing and difficult to explain” why the VA would cut mental health positions at a time of understaffing and need. Let’s hope they can turn things around soon, for the sake of our veterans. And in the meantime, I’ll just be over here, shaking my head and wondering what’s going on in Washington. 🙄
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
