For decades after serving in the US Air Force, Dennis suffered from sporadic back pain, which he believes stemmed from frequently moving heavy equipment during overseas tours.
But when the pain became chronic about two years ago, his mental health also began to suffer – especially as he had to limit his activities, including sports. His anxiety only grew after it took him a few months to schedule an appointment with a psychologist at his local Veterans Affairs facility.
“It was just really tough to get in,” said Dennis, who asked CNN not to use his last name to protect his privacy. “With these wait times, it’s like, ‘Crap.’ Disappointing is the best word to describe it.”
Dennis’ experience appears to be commonplace, according to data the VA publicly posts on its Access to Care website. The site provides extensive wait time information by specialty – including mental health – at VA facilities across the country.
But just how long veterans seeking mental healthcare for the first time actually have to wait to see a provider is anything but clear. The data posted on the Access to Care website paints a very different picture than the one VA Secretary Doug Collins has laid out publicly and for lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
