Houston – The Army is written inside the home in Houston, Texas. Even her dog is named Sergeant.
Smith was a mechanic of the Gulf War. During her days from 1989 to 1991, she said she was sexually assaulted. The aftermath included the turn to drugs and alcohol that led to her being kicked out of the army. She then spent several months in prison for possession of cocaine.
“I’ve just lost everything,” Smith told CBS News.
She turned to Houston’s Department of Veterans Affairs to stay calm. She currently works as a patient escort at Michael E. Devakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston.
Earlier this month, VA It was announced that they would cut it Approximately 72,000 workers, or about 15% of their agents, aim to return personnel to 2019 levels when there are fewer than 400,000 employees. It’s part of President Trump’s comprehensive efforts to reduce the federal workforce Through The White House Government Efficiency Bureau, or Doge.
“Monday and Friday are our busiest days,” Smith said. “Man, I feel like every day is Monday and Friday combined.”
As Smith saw his colleagues let go and staffing levels fell, schedule wait times increased. Veterans can be forced to wait up to four months to fully appoint services ranging from physical examinations to treatment and counseling.
“The help is there and then the staff is no longer there,” Smith said.
Nationally, more than 9 million veterans have acquired physical or mental health from VAs, according to the agency’s own data. Texas has at least 1.4 million veterans, according to the VA, and there are most of every state.
The nonprofit bounty of serving female veterans and their families handles overflows from the VA, and especially links women to alternative resources.
Smith says that if she hadn’t had the bounty after the fire, she would “never be here. I would probably have committed suicide or committed an OD.”
Tana Pressur, president of Grace After Fire, began serving in the Navy at the age of 19. As a medical professional, the pressur responded to 9/11 and was later deployed to the Iraq War.
“It’s terrible to see humanity,” Pressur said of her experiences in the war.
Decades later, pressure is still taking medication for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. With the VA cut, she’s worried Mental Health Care For other veterans.
She fears that if veterans are unable to make appointments and can be seen quickly enough, “it will increase the suicide rate among veterans.”
Grace after the fire gets most of that funding from Texas. And while that funding hasn’t been cut, some state partnerships have been pulled back as nonprofits are considered DEI organizations for their exclusive work with women, according to pressure.
“We don’t want to be labelled. We served and proudly served,” Plescher said.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or suicide crisis, you 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline By calling or texting the 988 Chat with 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here.
For more information Mental Health Care Resources and Supportthe National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline can reach 800-950-NAMI (6264) Monday through Friday from 10am to 10pm, 10am to 10am, 1am to 10am, or email info@nami.org.
