Download or read book An Examination of Veteran Access to Traditional and Alternative Forms of Mental Health Therapy written by United States. Congress and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-09-18 with total page 54 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An examination of veteran access to traditional and alternative forms of mental health therapy : hearing before the Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, second session, Wednesday, February 20, 2014.

Download or read book An Examination of Veteran Access to Traditional and Alternative Forms of Mental Health Therapy written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Subcommittee on Health and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book An Examination of Veteran Access to Traditional and Alternative Forms of Mental Health Therapy written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Subcommittee on Health and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Evaluation of the Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Health Services written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2018-03-29 with total page 467 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Approximately 4 million U.S. service members took part in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Shortly after troops started returning from their deployments, some active-duty service members and veterans began experiencing mental health problems. Given the stressors associated with war, it is not surprising that some service members developed such mental health conditions as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance use disorder. Subsequent epidemiologic studies conducted on military and veteran populations that served in the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq provided scientific evidence that those who fought were in fact being diagnosed with mental illnesses and experiencing mental healthâ€"related outcomesâ€"in particular, suicideâ€"at a higher rate than the general population. This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the quality, capacity, and access to mental health care services for veterans who served in the Armed Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn. It includes an analysis of not only the quality and capacity of mental health care services within the Department of Veterans Affairs, but also barriers faced by patients in utilizing those services.

Download or read book Returning Home from Iraq and Afghanistan written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2010-03-31 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nearly 1.9 million U.S. troops have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq since October 2001. Many service members and veterans face serious challenges in readjusting to normal life after returning home. This initial book presents findings on the most critical challenges, and lays out the blueprint for the second phase of the study to determine how best to meet the needs of returning troops and their families.

Download or read book Proposed Improvements in Veteran Administration Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Services written by Kyla A. Driver and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The U.S. government provides many health care benefits to veterans, both during and after they serve. Unfortunately, the benefits become a necessity for many veterans who return home because of the mental and physical trauma that they sustain during their time being active duty. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has created a healthcare system specifically for veterans that provides medical centers and outpatient clinics with a variety of services throughout the country. The trauma that veterans experience often requires them to have care that is specialized for them in areas like substance abuse and mental health. While they can receive care at VA locations, it is often not a choice for a veteran to travel the distance to that location or wait weeks or months for an appointment and are forced to get care in the civilian sector. Because of this, the VA has started to allow veterans to receive care at non-VA facilities and as a result, quality of care and specialization for veterans is very important. The services that are provided at those locations are reviewed for both availability and range of services for veterans. This thesis analyzes existing data on substance abuse treatment services and mental health services for both veterans and civilians in order to assess trends for services available and treatment options. Overall, treatment type availability has not changed since the Opioid Safety Initiative. VA facilities are not increasing their availability of alternative therapies, but telemedicine therapy has become more available nationwide. Veteran specific programs are slightly decreasing in non-VA mental health facilities unlike non-VA substance abuse facilities where the program availability is increasing. Increased access to alternative treatments can help medical institutions provide more diverse and better-quality treatment plans for veterans."--Abstract.

Download or read book Second Annual Report of the Activities of the Committee on Veterans Affairs House Report 113 659 December 11 2014 113 2 written by and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Improving the Quality of Health Care for Mental and Substance Use Conditions written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2006-03-29 with total page 528 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Each year, more than 33 million Americans receive health care for mental or substance-use conditions, or both. Together, mental and substance-use illnesses are the leading cause of death and disability for women, the highest for men ages 15-44, and the second highest for all men. Effective treatments exist, but services are frequently fragmented and, as with general health care, there are barriers that prevent many from receiving these treatments as designed or at all. The consequences of this are seriousâ€"for these individuals and their families; their employers and the workforce; for the nation's economy; as well as the education, welfare, and justice systems. Improving the Quality of Health Care for Mental and Substance-Use Conditions examines the distinctive characteristics of health care for mental and substance-use conditions, including payment, benefit coverage, and regulatory issues, as well as health care organization and delivery issues. This new volume in the Quality Chasm series puts forth an agenda for improving the quality of this care based on this analysis. Patients and their families, primary health care providers, specialty mental health and substance-use treatment providers, health care organizations, health plans, purchasers of group health care, and all involved in health care for mental and substanceâ€"use conditions will benefit from this guide to achieving better care.

Download or read book Complementary and Alternative Medicine for PTSD written by David M. Benedek and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2016-08-03 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The number of individuals diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder has increased in the past decade, not only in the military and veteran population but within the civilian population as well. Traditional treatments such as pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy have provided less-than-ideal results proving to be less effective when used alone to treat the disorder. Complementary and Alternative Medicine for PTSD supplements these traditional treatments, using new and effective techniques to fill the therapeutic void. The alternative therapies covered include acceptance and commitment therapy, acupuncture, alternative pharmacology, canine assistive therapy, family focused interventions, internet and computer-based therapy, meditation techniques, mobile applications, recreational therapy, resilience training, transracial magnetic stimulation, virtual reality exposure therapy, and yoga. Each chapter delivers the most up-to-date understanding of neurobiology, best practices, and key points for clinicians and patients considering inclusion of these treatments in patient care. Drs. David Benedek and Gary Wynn offer insight into the future of complementary and alternative medicine, shining a light onto how these techniques fit into clinical practice to create the most beneficial treatments for the patient. This book is both an essential resource and practical guide to everyday clinical interactions. It is a necessary addition to the medical library for students and senior clinicians alike.

Download or read book The Efficacy of Telehealth in Diminishing Stigmatization for Veterans Experiencing Mental Illness written by Monica E. Bennefield and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mental illness is a complex issue for service members and veterans due to exposure to a range of traumatic events during service. Many veterans in need of mental health treatment are reluctant to seek help due to stigma, which can lead to life-threatening consequences. Being able to reduce or remove stigma associated with mental illness is critical in improving the overall well-being of veterans. The Affordable Care Act galvanized interest in using telehealth to help meet major health care goals and in 2010, the Veterans Administration (VA) established the National TeleMental Health Center to provide veterans access to clinical providers throughout the county. The VA has invested in telehealth to establish timely treatment and potentially overcome stigma as a barrier. With telehealth being one of the most used services among veterans, this synthetized literature view will look at qualitative research on the efficacy of telehealth when compared to in-person mental health treatment in decreasing stigma associated with mental illness. Objective The aim of this synthesized literature review was to determine the efficacy of telehealth among veterans with mental illness and to fill in any gaps in the literature. Methodology A synthesized literature review of data was undertaken using a broad search approach from various databases. The articles selected for the synthesized review were peer-reviewed journal articles, governmental or private sector research, gray literature, and conference abstracts related to U.S. veterans and mental illness. The database searches expand over a period of 12 years and were limited to the English language. Articles that addressed telehealth services or mental health issues for veterans that served in the uniformed services of other countries were excluded. Results The literature review showed that stigma is a primary barrier to treatment seeking for those in the military community, with military masculinity as the common theme and how this institutional structure continues to promote stigma. The study found that those in the military community most in need of treatment do not access or engage in care because of the fear of stigmatization. The selected articles looked at the use of telehealth when compared to in person (IP) or treatment as usual (TAU) and whether there was an increase in treatment access when stigma and other barriers were removed with the use of telehealth as a treatment modality. The selected articles for inclusion focused on PTSD, major depression, and MST within the veteran and active-duty military community. The review demonstrated the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of using telehealth and web-based interventions as modalities to provide evidence-based treatment and reduce stigma and other barriers to care. The study found that when using telehealth, the types of interventions deployed should be appropriate for this treatment modality and the type of telehealth service (telephone, homebased therapy, office-based telehealth, or video-teleconference) should be tailored to the symptomology of the individual seeking and engaging in treatment. Implications for future practice, policies, and research are discussed.

Download or read book Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Military and Veteran Populations written by Institute of Medicine (U.S.). Committee on the Assessment of Ongoing Efforts in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the signature injuries of the U.S. conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, but it affects veterans of all eras. It is estimated that 7-20% of service members and veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom may have the disorder. PTSD is characterized by a combination of mental health symptoms - re-experiencing of a traumatic event, avoidance of trauma-associated stimuli, adverse alterations in thoughts and mood, and hyperarousal - that last at least 1 month and impair functioning. PTSD can be lifelong and pervade all aspects of a service member's or veteran's life, including mental and physical health, family and social relationships, and employment. It is often concurrent with other health problems, such as depression, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, substance abuse disorder, and intimate partner violence. The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide a spectrum of programs and services to screen for, diagnose, treat for, and rehabilitate service members and veterans who have or are at risk for PTSD. The 2010 National Defense Authorization Act asked the Institute of Medicine to assess those PTSD programs and services in two phases. The Phase 1 study, Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Military and Veteran Populations: Initial Assessment, focused on data gathering. Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Military and Veteran Populations Final Assessment is the report of the second phase of the study. This report analyzes the data received in Phase 1 specifically to determine the rates of success for each program or method. Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Military and Veteran Populations Final Assessment considers what a successful PTSD management system is and whether and how such a system is being implemented by DoD and VA. This includes an assessment of what care is given and to whom, how effectiveness is measured, what types of mental health care providers are available, what influences whether a service member or veteran seeks care, and what are the costs associated with that care. This report focuses on the opportunities and challenges that DoD and VA face in developing, implementing, and evaluating services and programs in the context of achieving a high-performing system to care for service members and veterans who have PTSD. The report also identifies where gaps or new emphases might be addressed to improve prevention of, screening for, diagnosis of, and treatment and rehabilitation for the disorder. The findings and recommendations of Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Military and Veteran Populations: Final Assessment will encourage DoD and VA to increase their efforts in moving toward a high-performing, comprehensive, integrated PTSD management strategy that addresses the needs of current and future service members, veterans, and their families.

Download or read book Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD written by Patricia A. Resick and published by Guilford Publications. This book was released on 2016-12-26 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The culmination of more than 25 years of clinical work and research, this is the authoritative presentation of cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Written by the treatment's developers, the book includes session-by-session guidelines for implementation, complete with extensive sample dialogues and 40 reproducible client handouts. It explains the theoretical and empirical underpinnings of CPT and discusses how to adapt the approach for specific populations, such as combat veterans, sexual assault survivors, and culturally diverse clients. The large-size format facilitates photocopying and day-to-day use. Purchasers also get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials. CPT is endorsed by the U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, and the U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a best practice for the treatment of PTSD.

Download or read book Veterans Access to Mental Health Care written by and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Veterans Health Administration written by United States. Department of Veterans Affairs. Office of Audits & Evaluations and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 54 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Veterans Health Administration does not have a reliable and accurate method of determining whether they are providing patients timely access to mental health care services. VHA did not provide first-time patients with timely mental health evaluations and existing patients often waited more than 14 days past their desired date of care for their treatment appointment. As a result, performance measures used to report patient's access to mental health care do not depict the true picture of a patient's waiting time to see a mental health provider. Although no measure of access is perfect or paints a complete picture in isolation, meaningful analysis and decision making requires reliable data, on not only the timeliness of access but also on trends in demand for mental health services, treatments, and providers; the availability and mix of mental health staffing; provider productivity; and treatment capacity. A series of timeliness and treatment engagement measures might provide decision makers with a more comprehensive view of the ability with which new patients can access mental health treatment.

Download or read book Improving Behavioral Health Care Access and Treatment Options for Veterans with Co occurring Behavioral Health Problems written by Sierra Smucker and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Veterans are at greater risk of behavioral health problems than the civilian population, with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and substance use disorders (SUDs) among the most common. Co-occurrence of SUDs with other behavioral health disorders is also high among veterans. Veterans continue to face barriers to accessing high-quality behavioral health care. In addition to logistical barriers and stigma, the co-occurrence of disorders can prevent veterans from getting the care they need. Specifically, traditional treatment models for those with co-occurring behavioral health problems have required patients to seek treatment for substance use before they qualify for targeted, empirically based treatments for PTSD and depression, because heavy substance use can hinder the progress and completion of such treatments. However, veterans may be using substances to manage symptoms of PTSD and depression. Treating substance use problems concurrently with PTSD or depression as part of an integrated approach to care is one promising route to ensuring that veterans receive the care they need without delay. This brief working paper reviews the research on co-occurring behavioral health problems and treatments among veterans and outlines several recommendations for improving veterans' access and expanding their treatment options.

Download or read book PTSD Research Quarterly written by and published by . This book was released on 1991 with total page 8 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Caring for Veterans in Rural Areas written by United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Veterans' Affairs and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: