‘Reach out’: Making mental health care more affordable for veterans

OMAHA, Neb. —

A new partnership aims to make mental health care more affordable for veterans. Region 6 Behavioral Health and At Ease USA have joined forces to make this happen.

The partnership started in January of this year, but both organizations say they’re hoping to get the word out that help is available.

As Dan Gross sifts through photos of his life in the military, he remembers his service to his country.

“(I) joined the Navy in 1991. Finally retired three years ago in 2023,” Gross said.

But some of his experiences put him in a dark place.

“I’ve had my issues,” Gross said. “My first deployment, I lost somebody. Second deployment, we lost somebody. Third deployment, I lost somebody before we left.”

He said that led to anxiety and depression that he’s still in therapy for.

And yet, Gross has been able to show other veterans the bigger picture when it comes to mental health.

He recently got hired as a peer support specialist with At Ease USA.

“Sometimes, that’s all you need is somebody to talk to,” Gross said.

The partnership with Region 6 is in part funding At Ease’s Peer Support program.

At Ease USA Executive Director Beth Kramer said 54% of their clients earn less than $19,000 a year.

“This partnership with Region 6 helps us offer those behavioral health services to those low-income veterans who deserve our help,” Kramer said.

Crystal Fuller with Region 6 said they receive state, federal and local funding. And they contract with mental health service providers.

“And we help reimburse agencies for treatment services for people that are uninsured, or underinsured, people that don’t meet the qualifications for Medicaid,” she said.

And when it comes to therapy, the partnership helps At Ease maintain a sliding fee scale to offset the costs of therapy sessions.

As for Gross, he has this advice for any veteran struggling mentally:

“Reach out. Reach out and talk to somebody whether it’s at ease, whether it’s the VA, whether it’s another organization,” Gross said.

At Ease said they also work to help incarcerated veterans with mental health issues. They say the money from Region 6 will help those veterans get a second chance.