Revolving door of mental health pros concerns Kilili

The frequency with which a medical center in Hawaii changes its mental health professionals for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder is causing some concerns for Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind-MP).

He pointed out that the situation becomes worse for a veteran who has been working with a psychiatrist when that psychiatrist changes jobs or moves to another location.

“Even in Honolulu, they have high turnover of mental health professionals,” said Sablan. “A veteran feels that they have to tell their story all over again. These are difficult stories to talk about. It takes time, for those suffering from PTSD, for them to open up.”

The Spark M. Matsunaga Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Honolulu is the closest hospital where CNMI veterans with PTSD are treated. June is PTSD Awareness Month.

The U.S. Veterans Affairs Office also sends its counselors to the CNMI once in a while but Sablan said this is not a solution.

“They do bring in mental health professionals and also do counseling through . But for some veterans, that does not work for them. Some of them are uncomfortable in trying to get their issues resolved via VTC or Skype,” Sablan said.

There are mental health professionals on the islands but CNMI veterans say their services are not enough.

That’s why Sablan said the ultimate goal is for the CNMI to have a veterans’ clinic. He said he had also met with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David J. Shulkin to talk about VA providing funding to be used for projects, programs, and other services for CNMI veterans.

“But right now we have immediate needs. Probably there are ways to address it and we are working with Secretary Shulkin and House [Committee on VA] chair Dr. Phil Roe (R-1st Tennessee),” added Sablan. “I shared a detailed report on the difficulties our veterans face in getting the help they deserve. The congressional office gathered these stories from casework we do for veterans, from our listening sessions, and at the Veterans Resource Fairs I hosted on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Secretary Shulkin committed to working with me, as a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, to improve services for Marianas veterans.”

He said that he also discussed with Shulkin increasing healthcare and making other medical services accessible to CNMI veterans. “We had conversations on things that we need here. Services that veterans on our islands need.

“I know it is moving through the system because some of the issues that we brought to his attention for our veterans are being addressed. Two said they received phone calls from Honolulu.”

Sablan said he also gave a wish list to Shulkin on what the CNMI wants. “Like having our own veterans’ center and access to mental health professionals. That’s what we’re lacking here. We only have two clinical psychologists on the island and I’m not sure if there’s a psychiatrist even at [the Commonwealth Health Center] right now.”