The House Veterans' Affairs Committee held a PTSD Health Care Symposium on Wednesday, May 16th in which mental health care providers and researchers discussed ways that the government and communities can come together to treat PTSD.

The discussion focused on removing the stigma attached to PTSD through outreach to veterans and the public, effective ways to screen returning veterans for mental health issues, and the treatment of PTSD as a complex issue that requires flexibility on the part of both mental health care professionals and the VA.

Those who testified expressed optimism about the ability of veterans to recover from PTSD with early intervention and the help of social support networks, but obstacles exist for rural veterans, National Guard and Reserve members who must rely on private insurance with limited mental health coverage, and veterans who are turned away from PTSD treatment programs for related substance abuse problems.

Contracts with community health centers, the inclusion of families in the treatment process, more efficient records management, and a better understanding of the relationship between substance abuse and mental illness were among the many suggestions offered to get veterans the care they need when they need it.