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As a veteran, the soldier is offered two years health care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs regardless of income, assets, etc., and this includes mental health treatment.
Additionally, upon release from active duty, service members and their families receive 180 days of transitional health-care benefits through the military health insurance program, Tricare. This also includes coverage for mental health counseling for both the service member and his or her family.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Tomah VA Medical Center will frequently see a veteran within 24 hours for mental health assessment and treatment.
Frequently, the veteran is contacted by telephone immediately if I call the VA and request a mental health appointment for the veteran.
In addition to Tomah VA Medical Center, the VA has an outpatient clinic in La Crosse that includes mental health services. The clinic will also be expanding its mental health services here in the near future.
The National Guard and reserve forces are not forgotten, are not being shunted aside, nor are they being ignored. They have undergone post deployment health assessments, attend reintegration sessions with veterans service professionals on site to offer their expertise, and are contacted by their county veterans service officers.
I can’t speak for the rest of the country, but in Wisconsin we take care of our returning service members.
Jim Gausmann is La Crosse County veterans’ service officer.
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