Watching C-span "veteran Mental Health Care & Suicide"

[Grizzly]

This was from the July 10, 2014 Veterans Affairs House Committee.

With the state I am in this is the last thing I should be watching right now. But listening to the testimony of the families and other brother warriors is enraging. I can not manage to switch the channel. I had intentionally tried to ignore these stories. Now it's slapped me in the face. What pisses me off more are the some of the committee member looking on without compassion to any of these stories.

Every one of the whistle blower stories are compelling. Bit just one of the stories should be evidence enough to institute rapid and immediate change into the administration. There should be no debate or argument among parties. To do so should show how skewed our politics truly are.

Anyway I'm truly out of energy to bitch much more.

 

[seniorboz]

I asked for help from my local V.A. and the Psyc told me she couldn't help me if I didn't want drugs and sent me away, then I made an appointment wit the Vet center, the appointment was for 14 days later, and then on the 13th day, I got a call cancelling the appt. with no option to make another. The 14 day requirement was fulfilled, but the cancelation is not recorded, so it looked like the V.A. kept it's requirement to see the vet within 14 days, but didn't. Wichita was one of the V.A. hospitals with the gov scam. Just wondering who got the big buck bonus's while I'm on my own in reality. It sucks being one of those vets that this scandal has hit. Now I'm being told that if I don't seek help for my PTSD at the V.A., my benefits will be cancelled...Can't get help, but as far as they are concerned, I was? WTF? It's great being deserted by my country, but I'm sure happy that they get their bonus's.

 

[Grizzly]

I'm still feeling my way around the VA. Luckily I have not encountered the issues that I read a lot about from my CBOC or RO. Does it all depend on what priority group you are in?

I went to the VA in 94 and 97 and was shown the door. It's a 1 hour drive to the RO so I said screw it. Then several years ago a CBOC was built in my town. 3 years ago, I walked in. Said I got some issues related to my service and they scheduled me. All they did was take my last 4 and last name. Now I'm not getting the things done I want done, but I am getting some level of treatment.

As for mental health, it's been relatively smoothe. But the pill formulary could be better. But that's my case. Are there issues? Hell yes. But they are manageable. They seem to be trying the best they can with what they have. The beuracracy of the system is still enraging.

I feel for you all that are having the bigger issues. Wish I could help you.