267457 Public health policies and collaborations to address the mental health needs of diverse veterans

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Diane L. Elmore, PhD, MPH , Public Interest Government Relations Office, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC
Policymakers and the public have focused increasing attention in recent years on the mental health needs of our nation's veterans. This attention has resulted in a greater understanding and recognition of the mental wounds of war, including posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, traumatic brain injury, and suicidal ideation. This presentation will discuss some of the key mental health challenges facing veterans across the lifespan and provide an overview of several important public health policies that have been enacted to address the mental health needs of veterans. In addition, new policy proposals will also be discussed. Finally, examples of effective collaboration on veterans mental health issues between federal entities, the mental health community, the veterans service community, and policymakers will also be highlighted.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Discuss some of the key mental health challenges facing veterans across the lifespan. Identify recently enacted and proposed public health policies to address the mental health needs of veterans. Describe some examples of effective collaboration on veterans mental health issues between federal entities, the mental health community, the veterans service community, and policymakers.

Keywords: Mental Health, Veterans' Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been working in the field of public mental health policy for nearly a decade with a special focus on at-risk populations, including military service members, veterans, and their families. I also coordinate military and veterans issues for the American Psychological Association.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4370.0: Mental health interventions for veterans: policy and outcomes