VA, Re-Start Support for Vets' Mental Health Service Dogs
- by: Care2.com
- recipient: President Obama and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki
Mental war wounds are serious issues for American veterans. More than 400,000 servicemen and women are getting treatment for traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD). Divorce, substance abuse and suicide rates are dramatically higher for these ex-soldiers.
But here's some good news: we know that providing mental health service dogs has helped thousands cope. For vets with service dogs, divorce and substance abuse decline and suicide rates plummet. Scientists don't know exactly why, but we do know it works.
That's why it's an outrage that the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it was stopping support for service dogs paired with veterans and canceling a study to understand why dogs help vets so much.
President Obama likes to say his administration is doing everything possible to help vets with mental health issues. Clearly, that's not true.
Tell President Obama and VA Secretary Shinseki to reinstate support for mental health service dogs for veterans.
Dear [Decision Maker],
I was disappointed to hear that the Department of Veterans Affairs suspended support for mental health service dogs for veterans. Our vets suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brian injury have increased divorce, substance abuse and suicide rates. But having a service dog helps combat all of these problems.
Your administration talks a lot about making sure veterans get the mental health care they need. But by withdrawing support for service dogs, and also canceling a Congressionally directed study to learn more about the impact service dogs have on vets and their families, you're clearly not living up to your promises.
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Your comments will be added here.]
Our veterans have made incredible sacrifices for our country. Sadly, for hundreds of thousands, that includes their mental health. Helping these brave men and women cope with these unseen wounds of war should be our highest priority. Please reinstate support for mental health service dogs for veterans.
