Veterans Advisory Council on Mental Health – Assist Veterans and the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System (VAMC) to provide for the mental health needs of all veterans, families, caregivers and survivors.

Mission:

The Veterans Advisory Council on Mental Health, Salt Lake City (VAC) acknowledges the mission of the Veterans Administration (VA) which is to fulfill the promise of President Abraham Lincoln from his second inaugural address, as modified by the VA “to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.” The VAC adopts as its mission: To assist Veterans and the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System (VAMC) to provide for the mental health needs of all veterans and their families in the service area of the VAMC.

Scope:

The VAC Scope of concern mirrors the lines of service of the VAMC, VAMC-Mental Health Services (VAMC-MH,) as well as all other services, programs and VA benefits that are available to Veterans. In a more specific way, our focus is on the services provided in the VAMC-MH, namely:

Inpatient Mental Health
Outpatient Mental Health
VA Homeless Program
PTSD /MST Services
Substance Abuse Services
Crisis Intervention (ACT)
Recreational Therapy
Vocational Services
Alliance House, PRRC Services and similar recovery services
Other VAMC-MH services not mentioned

The VAC scope of interest includes non-VA Veteran Services such as those related to Service Organizations such as Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, National Alliance on Mental Illness and other Veteran charitable organizations, etc.

The VAC’s scope also includes legislative interests as they pertain to mental health and Veterans interests. The scope includes all level of government: Local, State, and Federal.

In furtherance of this Mission, the VAC Goals are to:

Help maintain a well-informed Veteran population by fostering the free flow of information about medical and mental health services, policies, procedures, and practices.
Help develop and sustain a working alliance between Veterans and VAMC leadership to assure delivery of the highest quality of treatment and mental health services.
Receive from the Veterans topics of concern, problems, questions, and suggestions relating to the VAMC hospital and more specifically the mental health services provided there.
Research matters and present reports, to include suggested resolutions, remedies when appropriate to the VAMC Mental Health Executive Council.
Collaborate with Veterans, VAMC, community organizations, and individuals for development of resources for treatments and mental health services.