VA Tailors Plan to Expand Mental Health Staff

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Veterans Affairs Medical Center tailors plan to expand mental health staff

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Jun 15, 2012 - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki recently announced the department would add approximately 1,600 mental health clinicians as well as nearly 300 support staff to its existing workforce.

VA estimates that nine clinicians and one support person will be hired to support mental health operations for VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System, which includes hospitals in Leavenworth and Topeka.

Funding has now been distributed to VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System and recruitment is underway.

VA has an existing workforce of 20,696 mental health staff that includes nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. Currently, 285 mental health clinicians and support staff work locally supporting 37,020 veterans.

With each additional mental health care provider, a facility could potentially reach hundreds more veterans battling mental illness. New providers will join a team that is already actively treating veterans through individualized care, readjustment counseling and immediate crisis services. read more>>>