By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – The Mental Health Association of Erie County is launching a new initiative to help veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families.
More than 3,600 local soldiers have either served in the two war zones or remain on active duty. Mental Health Association President Thomas McNulty says 60 percent of the returning vets need counseling. He says such counseling often involved family members.
The Veterans Administration has come under fire for failing to meet the mental health needs of veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. McNulty says he reached out to local VA officials several months ago offering his agency's help, which was accepted.
The Mental Health Association is launching a massive community-wide effort to raise $500,000 to pay for the counseling. Plans call for the sale of 25,000 wrist bands at local sporting and cultural events over the next 60 days.
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