By Steve Allen, OHA Behavioral Health director

This month a new report confirmed what too many veterans, their loved ones and health care providers already know: Too many Oregon veterans are struggling to access the help and supports they need to thrive in civilian life.

We need to change this unfortunate trend.

The report, which the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs commissioned:

• Describes the behavioral health services available for Oregon veterans.
• Provides findings about barriers veterans face in accessing behavioral health services.
• Recommends policy and other changes that may improve the accessibility and quality of behavioral health services for Oregon veterans.

The recommendations include proposed steps to strengthen services and outreach for veterans, including:

• Reduce stigma about behavioral health issues to help more veterans feel comfortable seeking care.
• Strengthen suicide prevention programs.
• Improve care coordination for veterans and tailor services to better address the experiences faced by those who have served in the military.
• Expand the number of peer specialists who have their own firsthand knowledge of veterans issues and can provide effective support.
• Recruit more treatment providers to serve veterans.

Now this is where you come in. For the next several months OHA and ODVA are touring communities around the state to hear from local veterans, family members and service providers. We want to know if you feel we’ve missed anything and what implementation of reforms might require in your unique communities.

While the forums are free and open to the public, registration is required. Please join us at a location near you.

Adam Larson is a former Oregon State Hospital patient, who was admitted after being found guilty except for insanity for a crime. He had long struggled with substance use disorder, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. His time at the hospital’s Junction City campus gave him a chance at recovery, independence and fulfillment.

 “When I was at the hospital, I was reborn,” he said. “I was given a second chance. Now, I believe in myself, and I know ways to cope with addiction.”

When Oregon State Hospital staff checked in with him this April, two years after his discharge, he was thriving in his residential treatment home. He was focused on being a good role model for his two sons, staying sober and pursuing his long-term goal of becoming a peer recovery specialist. He had also completed a 12-week forklift training program for Food for Lane County, in hopes it would lead to full-time work.

Because of the help he received at Oregon State Hospital and the local resources available to help him transition, Adam learned to manage the symptoms of his behavioral health challenges and return to a full life in the community. His story is one of many that exemplifies the importance of the partnership between the hospital and the community mental health system. Together, we are working to build a strong continuum of care that meets individuals where they are in their recovery journey.

Read the full story in the latest issue of Recovery Times.