Q & A

• Colorado’s Community Mental Health Centers are providing mental health services to families and veterans of OEF and OIF. These centers are also reaching out to  veterans and their families to inform them of the symptoms of depression and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the availability of confidential mental health services.
• The Department of Veterans Affairs – Veterans Integrated Service Network 19 (VISN 19) is providing technical and consultative assistance to the clinicians at the community mental health centers.
• The Firefly Fund, a donor advised fund of Rose Community Foundation, has made a generous donation to begin the program and is committed to seeking additional funding through a variety of sources.
• Colorado’s First Lady, Jeannie Ritter, serves on the Advisory Council of CVF and is an integral part of the team, bringing her energy and her passion for mental health and veterans issues to this project.

• Studies indicate that between 20.3% and   42.3% of recent combat veterans require mental health treatment, with veterans from the National Guard and Reserve representing the substantially higher rates of problems and requiring services.  (Journal of the American Medical Association)  
• In Colorado, a significant portion of veterans are National Guard or Reservists who often come from rural areas. These men and women leave their families and jobs for long tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. When they return to their home communities and civilian jobs, both the veteran and his or her family faces significant readjustment issues, including mental health issues.

• VA mental health facilities are not always available in rural areas where many of the veterans live.
• The VA does not provide mental health services to the families of many of the veterans.
• Often, veterans are fearful of seeking services at the VA because of the “mental health stigma” which they feel could have a negative impact on their record.  The services provided through CVF are confidential.