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NEWS | Feb. 2, 2010

Governor promotes mental health services for Kentucky veterans

By Spc. Joshua Dodds North Dakota National Guard

FRANKFORT, Ky., - Gov. Steve Beshear recently held a press conference here at the State Capitol to promote mental health services for Kentucky servicemembers.

Beashear, who was joined by Brig. Gen. Mike Richie, the deputy adjutant general of the Kentucky National Guard, spoke of existing mental healthcare services available to veterans and their families.

He also introduced the Give An Hour program, which encourages mental healthcare providers to volunteer an hour each week to care for the post-deployment mental health issues of servicemembers nationwide.

"It's vital for our Soldiers and their families to know they can and should seek help when needed," said Beshear. "This program can make a difference and even save lives."

More than 13,000 Kentucky Guardsmen have been deployed in the Global War on Terror since Sept. 11, 2001.

"For those Soldiers and Airmen, the Give an Hour program can play a pivotal role in providing the help they need to heal and readjust after combat tours," said Richie.

The founder of Give An Hour, Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, also talked about the widespread need for additional mental healthcare services for post-9/11 veterans.

"The problem is not an inability to provide mental health services for veterans, it's the magnitude of the need," she said. "That's why we're asking mental health practitioners to volunteer at least an hour each week to help veterans and their families."

 

 

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