April 15, 2010

REP. DILLON DISCUSSES ISSUES FACING RETURNING SOLDIERS

State Representative Patricia Dillon (D-New Haven) was a featured panelist at this week's Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) Legislative Case Study panel discussion on meeting the mental health needs of Connecticut's returning veterans. The panel was held Tuesday in the Legislative Office Building.

Panelists discussed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues facing U.S. military veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. According to a CCSU study, the federal capacity to handle these cases is highly stressed. This has necessitated states, like Connecticut, to serve as supplementary sources of much-needed care, and to develop independent strategies to address the unmet needs of returning veterans. 

"Connecticut was the first state to recognize the stress of multiple deployments on National Guard and reserve soldiers, spouses and children," Rep. Dillon said. "These military families live in big cities and small towns. Since April of 2007, we've served 1700 adults and children, either by helping them find other resources, or behavioral counseling. The war is off the front page, but partners and children are still paying a price for their service. We shouldn't abandon them now."

Other panelists included: Representative Ted Graziani, Chairman, Select Committee on Veterans' Affairs; Representative Chris Coutu, Ranking Member, Select Committee on Veterans' Affairs; Dr. Linda Spoonster Schwartz, Connecticut Veterans Affairs Commissioner; DMHAS Commissioner Patricia Rehmer; Tom Kelley, Massachusetts Veterans Services Secretary; Jack Mordente, Director, Southern Connecticut State University Office of Veterans Services; Dr. Marc Goldstein, CCSU Professor of Psychology; and, Luis Arguelles, Graduate Student, CCSU Office of Veterans Affairs. The Hartford Courant's Tom Condon served as moderator.