Welch introduces new veteran mental health bill

A week after holding a roundtable in Rutland to discuss mental health care for veterans, Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., on Wednesday introduced new legislation in the House to break down barriers to treatment by increasing access to long-distance mental health services.

During the roundtable at Rutland VFW Post 648, Welch heard from veterans' representatives and mental health experts about the promise of telehealth and telemedicine, which allow veterans to receive treatment remotely. Telehealth services help reduce the stigma sometimes associated with seeking mental health services and the distance rural veterans must travel to their closest VA medical center.