When it comes to veterans mental health care availability, one U.S Congressional member feels it is important to expand access.

Congresswoman Cindy Axne introduced legislation that was passed by the U.S. House and is called the Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans’ Mental Health Act. Axne says the legislation aims to improve access to mental health care for rural veterans. 

“This will help provide new intensive community treatment programs for our veterans dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues. It will study gaps in rural mental health coverage at the VA (Veterans Affairs) and I was so thrilled to see the House pass it right before Memorial Day and looking forward to hopefully getting this signed into law completely.”

Axne tells Raccoon Valley Radio that veterans need more support when it comes to mental health and in rural states such as Iowa there needs to be more community activism and support for veterans who aren’t in larger cities.

“We have got to start supporting our veterans when it comes to mental health in a greater way.”

Axne says the legislation is named in memory of Iowa veteran Brandon Ketchum who died by suicide after he was denied mental health services.