NYS Social Workers Group Calls for More Funding for Veterans' Mental Health Program

A group of New York State social workers wants more funding for a veterans' mental health program. The Veterans Mental Health Training Initiative educates community providers about veteran-specific issues and cultural competency for working with them. The group seeks $100,000 to fund a position to link the Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project with the clinicians in the initiative. Amelia Lochner-Malavé with the National Association of Social Workers New York Chapter says it's important to learn how to help providers...

Amelia Lochner-Malavé: important to help providers

While clinicians are trained to address numerous mental health issues, Lochner-Malavé notes this program goes beyond that. Particularly, she thinks improving cultural competency can increase the trust a veteran might have for a clinician...

Amelia Lochner-Malavé: meeting the needs of veterans

She says it's especially important to show humility and a deeper understanding when covering tough topics like suicide prevention. A 2022 New York Health Foundation report found the rate of suicides among New York veterans has stabilized in recent years, but there are signs the progress is fragile.