KLJB: Sen. Ernst on mental health care timeliness for vets

“Getting mental health care to veterans, right away. Senator Joni Ernst was at the VFW in Muscatine today talking about new legislation. She says it's critical for vets seeking mental healthcare to get that help right away, and the average wait time at the VA is too long - about 36 days. She says this new legislation would allow veterans to go to a non-VA mental health provider in their home community, helping to alleviate the waiting period. Veterans in Muscatine say they support the bill – ‘for me, it took years to even admit I had a problem. Years, before I sought treatment… a lot of veterans same way as me, you almost rather come home missing an arm, than having a problem in your head.’ [ERNST] ‘we know this is an issue. We are losing 22 veterans every day to suicide and if we can prevent that, we need to do that.’ Senator Ernst says several organizations are backing her legislation including the Wounded Warrior Project and the Concerned Veterans of America, but she says it will still be a challenge to get the bill through.” (KLJB, 3/31/15)