Peer support program for veterans in rural areas

摘要

There are 3.4 million rural veterans enrolled in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system, and 32% of veterans of conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq (Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn [OEF/OIF/OND]) return home to rural communities. With a shortage of mental health professionals in rural areas, these veterans face significant disparities in accessing care, especially specialized services. Although telehealth is a somewhat successful strategy to address this disparity, geographical inequities in the distribution of mental health professionals are unlikely to change in the near future.