News

Maine rep joins bipartisan push for rural veteran mental health services

Maine rep joins bipartisan push for rural veteran mental health services

Rep. Jared Golden (D) Maine 2nd Congressional District Photo: clipart.com


BANGOR, Maine (AP) — A Maine congressman is working across the aisle with a Republican from Indiana on a proposal that would create mental health telemedicine services for veterans in rural parts of the country.

Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat, is working on the proposal with Rep. Jim Banks. Their bill would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to create programs at three VA facilities that use computerized cognitive behavioral therapy to treat veterans who suffer from conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Togus in Maine would be able to participate as one of the facilities, Golden said. He said the distance between rural vets and care facilities sometimes prevents them from seeking services they need.

Golden said telehealth alternatives represent “a promising way to address this problem for rural vets, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.”

Latest Headlines

39 minutes ago in Local

Maine Man’s Body Found Floating in Lake Auburn

Fresh

Auburn Police say an investigation is still active.

3 hours ago in Local

Maine lawmakers fail to overturn governor’s veto of data center moratorium

The Maine legislature has upheld the governor's veto of what would have been a first-in-the-nation moratorium on large data centers.

7 hours ago in Local

Police looking for Oxford County woman last seen on Monday

Police are asking for help locating a missing Waterford woman.

10 hours ago in Lifestyle, Trending

Stir well, slap lightly. Tips for making a mint julep worthy of the Kentucky Derby

Horses are poised, bets are on, hats are at the ready and the bourbon is standing by, ready to be poured into thousands of mint julep cocktails. It must be Kentucky Derby weekend.

19 hours ago in Local

One Dead in Skowhegan House Fire

The body was taken to the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta for identification.