On the recordMay 15, 2013
Today I rise to honor Military Mental Health Awareness Day. Mental health issues continue to carry a significant stigma in our country, but it is time that we recognize the challenges that many current servicemembers and veterans are facing, and we work to address their needs. Post-traumatic stress is all too prevalent in our servicemembers and veterans. As a country, beyond partisanship, we must come together to tackle this issue. Our men and women in uniform deserve our dedication, just as we ask them to dedicate their lives to our Nation's service. In San Diego, nearly 5,000 veterans were treated for post-traumatic stress in 2011 according to the VA. We are fortunate in San Diego to have medical institutions that provide innovative models of care to our servicemembers and veterans; and it is my hope that with further attention to this issue, we can bring some of those standards of care to the rest of the country. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to help me bring attention to this issue by working with service providers, counselors, and military groups in their communities as we continue to honor the sacrifices these servicemembers make for us. ____________________
