VA Secretary Says Video Consultations Can Remove Stigma of Mental Health Treatment for Vets
Ìý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý By Kevin Freking ÌýAssociated Press June 20, 2012
WASHINGTON – TheÌýÌýAffairs Department hopes to reduce the risk of suicide amongÌýÌýby making greater use of video conferences between patients and doctors and by gradually integrating its electronicÌýÌýrecords with those maintained by the Defense Department, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki toldÌýÌýprofessionals Wednesday.
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Among active-duty troops, there has been an uptick in suicides this year — about one a day, compared with one every 36 hours in previous years, The Associated Press reported earlier this month. AmongÌýÌýfrom all of the nation’s wars, about 18 each day commit suicide.
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Shinseki said the video conferencing would reduce the distance patients have to travel and make it easier to fit appointments within a busy schedule. He also pointed out that moreÌýwere communicating with the department’s staff through online chats and text messages, and that the department is encouraging the trend because it lessens the stigma that some patients feel when they seek treatment.
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“Shame keeps too manyÌýÌýfrom seeking help,” Shinseki said at aÌýÌýconference.
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Shinseki oversees a department that members of Congress have criticized heavily in recent months for overstating how frequently patients are able to see a doctor or otherÌý professional. An inspector general’s investigation found that nearly half of theÌýÌýseekingÌýÌýcare for the first time waited about 50 days before getting a full evaluation. Meanwhile, the VA had been reporting that the vast majority of evaluations were being conducted within 14 days.
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Shinseki said the path toward suicide often begins before soldiers take off their uniforms, and that’s why he hopes to integrate the electronicÌýÌýrecords used by the VA and the Defense Department by 2017. He specifically cited one soldier’s suicide to make his case that the two departments need to do a better job of maintaining and sharing information, noting that the solider knew he was experiencing mental distress and asked to retire rather than go back to Iraq. That request was denied.
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Shinseki said that upon the soldier’s return from Iraq his military records contained no entries of depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. His enrollment in the VA also did not reflect that he was in distress.
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“VA should have received ample warning about theÌý burden this veteran was carrying,” Shinseki said. “There was no handoff between our departments that would have enabled us to track and treat this veteran or any other veteran today.”
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VA officials note that the suicide rate amongÌýÌýhas remained rather constant since 2005, while it has increased slightly for the general public. Also, as many as two-thirds of theÌýÌýwho commit suicide are not enrolled in VAÌýÌýcare.
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“We can’t influence and help those we don’t see,” Shinseki said.
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