Monday, April 17, 2000
Mental care for veterans expands
N. Ky. clinic to open in summer
BY Susan Vela
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — By summer, Northern Kentucky veterans could receive psychiatric care without crossing the Ohio River.
The Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Cincinnati and North Key Community Care are working together to open a psychiatric clinic that would serve this region.
VA would provide the psychiatrist, North Key its Scott Street facility.
The partnership could increase the number of veterans receiving counseling and medication, said Dr. Bernadette D'Souza, assistant director for clinical affairs at the VA facility in Cincinnati.
“We expect there will be a very high demand for it,” said Gary Goetz, North Key's vice president of development and community relations.
Cincinnati's VA facility provides psychiatric care to about 1,400 veterans. Roughly 20 percent are from Northern Kentucky, and transportation problems often are a barrier for veterans needing psychiatric care.
Dr. D'Souza said a Covington clinic could provide care to about 50 veterans. She is trying to hire a psychiatrist to work out of North Key's facility.
Dr. D'Souza approached North Key last summer about a clinic.
The Covington agency provides mental health services and works with substance abuse problems and developmental disabilities. It was open to the idea.
Mr. Goetz said individual pride could be a problem.
“Veterans tend to be very proud individuals, and they want to rely on their own resources. The goal is to make the assistance available and more familiar to them.”
Mr. Goetz said he would try to counter potential resistance by distributing fliers about the new clinic at American Legion halls and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts.
Dr. D'Souza noted that psychiatric care for veterans is unique because their military experience must be considered. With post-traumatic stress disorders, she said, battle isn't always the root cause.
She knows of Vietnam-era veterans who never left the United States but were traumatized by duties involving body bags from overseas.
VA began working in July with Butler County Mental Health Services in Fairfield, where a VA psychiatrist sees about 30 patients.
Once the North Key clinic opens, veterans will be able to make appointments by calling North Key, (859) 331-3292.
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