We need your action now: Please contact Assemblymember Aileen Gunther to urge her to make fund the NASW-NYS Veterans Mental Health Training Initiative with a legislative add on. NASW-NYS has provided more services for clinicians serving Veterans in the last year than the past 9 years combined, and the need for these trainings continue to grow.
Why this matters:
The State of New York and the country at large faces formidable challenges in serving the mental health needs of Veterans, particularly those returning from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since 2001 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan steadily increased to over 2 million, of which, over 793,000 have been subjected to multiple deployments; increasing the likeliness of exposure to multiple traumas. As a result, an extremely high percent of soldiers are returning home with significant mental health issues. Trauma sustained in these combat operations, coupled with the affect of deployment on families, is embedded within the unique context of military culture, and often manifests differently among military populations than in the general public. Now compounded by isolation, grief, and anxiety caused by COVID-19, the journey ahead for our Veterans is more complicated and uncertain than ever before.
Veterans in New York State have already sacrificed to protect our legislators, our communities, and families and it is now our responsibility to fight for their access to quality mental health services.
It is crucial that providers of Veteran mental health services have access to basic and comprehensive training on Veteran issues, treatment modalities, and culture.
NASW-NYS Chapter needs your help to reach the Senate and Assembly to save the NASW-NYS Veterans Mental Health Training Initiative. Please don't hesitate, and call or write your legislators today!
Call or Send an Email!
Personalize your message to help us stand out. Include if you have attended NASW-NYS VMHTI programming, how it was helpful to you, and why clinicians need access to this training.