Expanded Mental Health Benefits Aim to Lower Veteran Suicide Rates

"About 16.7 per day commit suicide in the United States," said Lawrence Connell, the director of the VA Providence Health care system.

He said those numbers are down, but still way too high.

"Of the veteran population that does successfully commit suicide, 60% of those veterans are either not enrolled in the VA or haven't been to the VA in a year," said Connell.

Which is why he's hoping more veterans come on board for these free benefits that they've earned serving our country.

"We want to get veterans help fast as possible," said Connell.

And now the VA is making it easier with the Compact Act that went in to effect in January to include getting that mental health help at any emergency room.

"If you're a veteran in crisis you can go to the nearest emergency room to get that help you need and not only do we the VA take care of that bill, we'll also provide up to 30 days as an inpatient in the hospital you choose to go to," said Connell.

"In addition to the 30 days as an inpatient, we'll pay for, we'll also pay for 90 days as an outpatient."

Since this expansion of benefits, director Connell says 62 local veterans have benefited being treated at hospitals in the community.

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