EAST ALABAMA, Ala. (WBRC) — A recently passed bill is set to significantly improve mental health care for veterans in Alabama. The new legislation, known as the Veterans Access to Care Bill (State Bill 135), empowers the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs to establish and operate a statewide health care system specifically tailored to veterans’ needs.
Brandon Miller of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs emphasized the importance of customized mental health services for veterans. “When it comes to helping our heroes with mental health, we need to make sure those services are tailored to veterans,” Miller stated.
Previously, Alabama lacked mental health resources specifically designed for veterans. The passage of State Bill 135 in the spring and its enactment on June 1 marks a critical step toward addressing this gap. In response, a committee has been formed to develop a comprehensive plan to address the behavioral health needs of Alabama veterans.
“At the state level, nothing is being provided,” Miller said. “We have crisis centers and other programs that do a wonderful job, but the veteran community needs tailored services for different topics such as TBI, PTSD, and other experience-based issues that may arise from their military service.”
The newly established steering committee will convene for the first time in August 2024. Their mission is to draft a comprehensive plan to present to the governor by June 2025, aiming to create a robust mental health support system for veterans across Alabama.
This initiative underscores a critical acknowledgment of the unique challenges faced by veterans and the necessity for specialized mental health services to address issues stemming from military service.
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