This past week on September 17th and 18th SAMHSA brought together twenty individuals currently working with veterans for a round table discussion titled “Building Bridges: Veterans Mental Health Dialogue Meeting.” Several members of the CIAV were there including: TAPS, DAV, Vets4Vets, IAVA, and Swords to Plowshares. The outcome of this discussion will be a report disseminated by SAMHSA, along with the top six recommendations put forward by the group members that will influence SAMHSA’s policies going forward with veterans. Main points of discussion included employment as a piece of recovery, issues facing families and survivors, the judicial system and veterans, the need for longitudinal research within the VA, access to mental health care ( especially for active duty and rural veterans), the need for more women specific care. The CIAV organizations brought much to the table and truly gave a voice to the OEF/OIF population. A link to the full report will be available on the CIAV site after release by SAMHSA within the next several months.
Tia Christopher
Iraq Veteran Project Program Associate
Women Veteran Coordinator
Swords to Plowshares
