Post – Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a natural reaction to experiencing a traumatic or life – threatening event.
For a veteran, these events may include serving in a combat zone, peacekeeping missions or medical emergencies.
PTSD is real and when left untreated can have a significant effect on a veteran’s day to day life such as interacting with family and friends.

Dear Veteran – There is HELP available and it can be found locally:

VA Clinic located at 2600 Memorial Park, Brownwood 325-641-0568.
Texas Veterans Commission – Local Health Care Advocate is Sean Lewis his office is located at 1600 Burnett, Brownwood (located in the American Legion building) or email [email protected].
Center for Life Resources – www.cflr.us or veteransmentalhealth.texas.gov
or 325-998-5165.

I received the following online American Legion publication and I felt that it
was very important to share:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that veterans no longer need to pay copays for their first three outpatient mental health care and substance use visits through 2027. This copayment exemption dates back from June 27, 2023, and by law will end Dec. 29, 2027. The benefit will provide veterans with better access to mental health services and lower out-of-pocket expenses.

For veterans to be eligible for this copayment exemption, the outpatient visit must be with a qualified mental health professional at VA or have been provided through VA’s network of community care providers. If eligible, the VA will automatically refund veterans for any copays paid to VA on or after June 27, 2023, for these appointments. No action is required by veterans.

“We want every veteran, regardless of their financial status, to have access to the mental health care they deserve — and that’s what this copayment exemption is all about,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “We are constantly working to expand access to mental health care, and we won’t rest until every veteran has access to care whenever and wherever they need it.”

VA also released a new suicide prevention policy in 2023 that allows eligible veterans and certain former servicemembers in acute suicidal crisis to go to any VA or non-VA emergency facility for no-cost emergency healthcare. More than 60,000 veterans and former servicemembers have benefited from this lifesaving care. Additionally, because eligible veterans do not need to be enrolled in the VA system or go to a VA to use this
benefit, nine million veterans have had access to emergent suicide care at no cost.

To learn more about the copay exemption benefit for veterans, which is part of the Cleland-Dole Act of 2022 or any other questions please visit the VA’s website VA.gov.
American Legion Post #196 is located at 1600 Burnett, across from Hendrick Hospital, in Memorial Park. Post meetings are the second Tuesday of each month. A meal is provided at 1800 hours followed by a Post meeting at 1900 hours.

In each upcoming article, I will recognize local businesses who support our veterans: Brownwood Chamber of Commerce, Early Chamber of Commerce, Weakley – Watson Ace Hardware, Dustin Larremore Farmers Insurance and Mid – Tex Federal Credit Union.

Follow Post #196 on facebook: American Legion Post 196 – Brownwood
You can also follow or join the American Legion at Legion.org.

Yesterday we served our country, Today we serve our Community.