For Immediate Release
May 15, 2008

Alex Reese
(603) 768-1714
 SUNUNU REJECTS VETERANS' MENTAL HEALTH CARE; REPORT INDICATES MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG VETS MUCH HIGHER THAN PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED

(Manchester, NH) - CBS News reported last week that internal Veterans Administration documents show that the incidence of mental illness among veterans is much higher than publicly acknowledged, and that it's possible that more veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars may lose their lives to suicide than to combat. Despite the well-documented incidence of mental illness among veterans, John E. Sununu has voted against funding for veterans' mental health care, rejecting a 2005 proposal for $2.5 billion for veterans' mental health care.

"Sununu has marched in lock step with Bush's incompetent war strategy that places soldiers on extended deployments with less leave time with their families, and at the same time, Sununu has voted against providing additional services for veterans when they return home," said Alex Reese, press secretary for the NHDP's Coordinated Campaign. "Our veterans deserve our full support, but as usual, Sununu is part of the problem."

CBS News reported on May 5 that internal VA documents show a much higher incidence of mental illness among veterans than is publicly acknowledged. The report also said the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health believes that veteran suicide may surpass combat deaths in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. [CBS News, 5/5/08] CBS further reported that a "lack of resources at the community level could cripple efforts to adequately meet the needs of returning soldiers." [CBS News, 5/5/08] But in 2005, Sununu voted against $2.5 billion specifically for veterans' mental health care. [Senate Vote #343, 11/17/05]