Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake VA today dedicated a new mental health building that's a safe haven for veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury and other mental health struggles.
In a sense, this building is a gift to the veterans of Utah and surrounding states. It provides top-notch mental health care in a comfortable atmosphere, and also shows that, as a country, we grasp the importance of this kind of care for our fighting men and women.
In talking to veterans about the care they receive at the Mental Health Outpatient Building, some will say it saved their lives.
"If the veterans out there will give this facility a chance, it will change their life," said Vietnam war veteran Stu Shipley. "It has changed mine."
When Shipley came home from the Vietnam War, it was different.
"This help wasn't here. It wasn't recognized," Shipley said.
Today, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is recognized, allowing Shipley and a new generation of combat veterans to start the healing process for their invisible wounds.
"They will never get rid of that — it will always be there, but you can learn to live with it through the help of this facility," said Shipley
They will never get rid of that — it will always be there, but you can learn to live with it through the help of this facility,
–Stu Shipley, Vietnam war veteran
Former Marine John Angel fought three tours in Iraq. When he came home, he didn't know anything was wrong. Then, he pulled a gun on his wife during a bad dream.
"She knew me, but she saw a side of me that she never saw before," said Angel. "She told me that I needed help."
It has big rooms for group counseling and 95 offices. Last year, the mental health staff treated more than eleven thousand veterans, most of them in an outdated temporary building. Now, they can even treat patients at remote locations. While the wars wind down, the need for care expands.
"It makes a message to veterans that we're serious about providing high quality mental health care," said PTSD clinical team coordinator Steven Allen, PhD.
The facility cost nearly $7 million to build. They've already filled it, but have room to expand.
