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Hoagland promoting mental health programs for veterans

HELPING VETERANS — State Sen. Frank Hoagland, R-Mingo Junction, is working to promote state programs that help Ohio’s veterans. -- Contributed

COLUMBUS — State Sen. Frank Hoagland, R-Mingo Junction, this week joined Gov. Mike DeWine and other state leaders to promote state programs that support the mental health of Ohio’s veterans and military community.

“It is so important that we as a nation, state and community own our responsibility to help our veterans and their families during such troubling times,” said Hoagland. “We must never forget and never leave anyone behind.”

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Ohio Department of Veteran Services announced an initiative to work with local veteran organizations to identify gaps in mental health services and offer assistance.

Help is available to Ohio’s veterans and active-duty military personnel at OhioCares.Ohio.gov, or two crisis helplines — Ohio CareLine at (800) 720-9616 or the Veterans Crisis Line at (800) 273-8255.

Hoagland’s work in the most recent budget helped secure $12 million to maintain a critical treatment program for veterans living with PTSD, and was able to expand it to law enforcement and first responders.

The budget included an additional $740,000 for 13 veterans groups across Ohio, appropriated $200,000 to provide temporary housing for homeless female veterans and allocated $100,000 in each fiscal year for Save a Warrior to provide PTSD rehabilitation services.

“I have witnessed my friends and family members find peace and purpose in this life and I know in my heart how instrumental the veteran helping veterans network is,” added Hoagland. “The bottom line is, these programs save lives, and should be available for any of the brave men and women who have served this great nation.”

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