Trump’s Plan to Improve Mental Health Care for Military Vets

Very little time remains until Donald Trump will finally occupy his position as the President of the United States. The veterans are showing him great support in this direction, due to the fact that Trump made some significant reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs. But is it enough–what he did for the vets around the country? Some people feel that there are a few issues that need to be taken care of, if Trump really wishes to provide better services for the people that served the country. Issues like post-traumatic stress and mental health, two conditions that affect most veterans, are still waiting for valid solutions. Here are the areas Trump is looking to improve once he becomes a President, as he stated that these matters are very important and that they will be properly addressed.

 

Increase awareness among civilians. Everybody is talking about first aid or CPR maneuvers, but no one is talking about dealing with a panic attack or what to do if someone you know has suicidal thoughts. The family of a vet can help a lot, if they know what to do when their family member has a mental health crisis. Luckily, there is a course that can teach people how to efficiently manage such situations, keeping the veterans in their family on the safe side. So, such trainings should definitely be part of the budget and Trump’s governmental team should have this in mind.

 

Post-traumatic stress is not the only problem. It is true that post-traumatic stress is one of the most common mental health issues among veterans, but there are many others that come in various shapes. The mind is a very tricky environment, reacting in so many ways as a response to elevated stress levels and trauma. Thus, nausea, loss of balance, amnesia, and even the inability to make a coherent speech are all signs of brain injury, due to explosives. Also, anxiety, depression, moral injuries, and suicide are other problems that affect vets throughout the country. Thus, a general approach is not going to work because each person may need a personalized solution to deal with his problems.

 

Technology can be of great help. Someone suffering from various health problems will have to visit the doctor’s office, especially in the case of periodic counseling. But, what if veterans could benefit from the help offered by technology, which will enhance the quality and frequency of medical care? For instance, they could get therapy whenever they need via Skype or receive text messages on their cell phones as reminders for their medication. The thing is that veterans showed interest about such options in surveys, so all the government needs to do is to find ways to implement such options.

 

Mental healthcare outside of the VA. One of the things Trump promised before being elected is the option for veterans to seek medical care outside of the VA. Of course, such an option exists, but only in certain cases. A vet could benefit from it if he lives in a particular distance range from the VA or if he waited on a list for 30 days or more. Also, another downside of such clinics is the fact that the medical staff is not familiar with military culture, which is detrimental when it comes to offering adequate medical care to such patients.