A sign describes the governor's "Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters" plan Thurs., Jan. 2, 2020.
Brett Sholtis / Transforming Health
Veterans’ Mental Health Discussed in Cumberland County
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Ed Arke
Brett Sholtis / Transforming Health
A sign describes the governor's "Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters" plan Thurs., Jan. 2, 2020.
(Camp Hill)–A number of federal and state officials gathered in Camp Hill Friday for a roundtable on the topic of veterans’ mental health and suicide prevention efforts. The Reach Out PA initiative is a multi-agency effort aimed at expanding resources and statewide support of mental health and related health care priorities.
According to a 2017 study from the University of Southern California, approximately 1 million adult Pennsylvanians struggled with serious psychological distress at least once in 2015. Of those adults, more than 27 percent had an unmet need for mental health care. That population includes 42 percent who did not receive mental health care because they could not afford it.
The roundtable was hosted by State Senator Mike Regan, who serves as Chairman of the State Senate Verterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee. Area Congressman Scott Perry was also in attendance.
State Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller issued an initial report last week that will be used by the governor’s statewide Suicide Prevention Task Force to develop a long-term suicide-prevention strategy for Pennsylvania.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or is considering suicide, help is available. Reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting PA to 741-741.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
