A new campaign was recently launched by the Department of Veterans Affairs called the “Now is the Time” campaign aimed at informing veterans and their loved ones of the mental health resources that are available to them. However, some veterans advocacy groups have voiced concern that the VA will not be able to keep up with the ever-growing mental health demand fueled by increased social isolation and unemployment as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
According to an article published by Stars and Stripes, “[Veterans’] advocates still are waiting for a report by a White House task force established by President Donald Trump last year that was charged with developing a national road map to boost mental health care and to stem persistently high suicide numbers among veterans, who have been hit hard in the pandemic. Release of the task force report had been scheduled in March but was shelved abruptly due to the outbreak.”
Last week VA Secretary Robert Wilkie announced that the draft report was being finalized but did not give a release date.
Relevant Pages: Veterans Disability