FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
CONTACT: Michael Houston, IAVA (212) 982-9699 or michael[at]iava.org

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Face Inadequate Mental Health Care
Department of Defense Report and Washington Post Series Reveal Scope of the Problem

NEW YORK - Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest organization for the veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, issued the following statement in regard to a critical new report by the Defense Department's Mental Health Task Force and a Washington Post series on mental health care:

"The Department of Defense report and the Washington Post series are important reminders that thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are suffering from psychological wounds from these two wars. The stigma surrounding mental health care remains pervasive and mental health professionals are often inaccessible and insufficiently trained" said Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of IAVA. "Providing adequate care to U.S. servicemembers is not only essential to their own well-being and that of their families, it's crucial for the health of our military. Last week, we learned that vets are twice as likely as non-vets to commit suicide. We must do better as a nation to provide care for our men and women in uniform."

IAVA commends Dana Priest and the Washington Post for continuing to shed light on some of the most serious issues servicemembers are facing. The story of Army Spec. Jeans Cruz illustrates the heartbreaking reality too many servicemembers confront upon their return. Our organization has spoken to numerous veterans suffering in similar ways. While the DoD report addresses some of the most critical issues surrounding mental health care, it fails to make recommendations in a few key areas. Chief among them are the questions of redeploying troops with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the language of pre and post deployment assessment forms.

"The report addresses many of the significant issues concerning mental health care for veterans, but we still have a long way to go. It's crucial that we as a country understand the psychological burden of combat and allocate adequate resources to provide care for those affected. If these serious issues are not properly addressed, rates of divorce, homelessness and suicide among veterans will skyrocket. Veterans will show the psychological scars of these wars for years to come and we must ensure that they get the help they need," said Rieckhoff.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, is the nation's first and largest organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, representing more than 60,000 veterans and civilian supporters in all 50 states. To arrange an interview with Paul Rieckhoff or any other IAVA member veterans, contact Michael Houston at (212)-982-9699, or email michael[at]iava.org. For more information, visit www.iava.org.

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