In its last meeting before the 2025 legislative session, the Alabama Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee approved three preliminary recommendations they want lawmakers to adopt this year.
The committee also announced that the Alabama Department of Mental Health will begin next week accepting applications for veteran treatment pilot programs. There is available $3 million from Alabama’s share of opioid settlement money.
The committee’s three preliminary recommendations, of which ADMH Commissioner Kim Boswell said some have already been drafted as legislation for the upcoming session, are to establish a veterans resource center, expand the state’s care of traumatic brain injuries and to introduce a voluntary firearm surrender program.
“Our first recommendation is that it would be a fabulous idea to have an Alabama veterans resource center in the state (with) the mission to serve as a one-stop center that prioritizes rapid workforce reintegration for Alabama veterans and their families through a job-first strategy,” Boswell said. “It would also include integrated health and behavioral health care and access and support for veterans.”
Last October, the committee discussed the impact of traumatic brain injuries on veterans, with veterans with a history of traumatic brain injuries being nearly 32% more likely to have alcohol use disorders. Veteran suicide rates were also 56% higher among those with traumatic brain injuries than those without.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Alexander Willis and originally published by Alabama Daily News.
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