APA Testifies Before Congress Regarding the Need to Outreach
to Service Members and Veterans on College Campuses
On Tuesday, May 19, APA member, Jeffrey Pollard, PhD, ABPP (Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at George Mason University), testified on behalf of APA before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, at a hearing entitled, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Medical Care: The Crown Jewel and Best Kept Secret. Dr. Pollard’s testimony focused on the need for mental and behavioral health outreach to military service members and veterans on college and university campuses and highlighted some of the exciting work that he and his colleagues at George Mason University are doing on behalf of their military and veteran student population. In addition, Dr. Pollard highlighted three key recommendations:
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Sufficient resources must be made available to support targeted efforts on campus to address mental and behavioral health needs among service members and veterans, including risk of suicide.
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Continuing education and training opportunities must be readily available for college and university mental and behavioral health professionals regarding some of the unique deployment, reintegration, and readjustment issues facing service members, veterans, and their families.
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Mechanisms must be developed to conduct appropriate outreach to service members and veterans who are beginning their post-secondary education online while deployed or upon their return from service.
Read Dr. Pollard’s full testimony
View the full hearing |
