Veterans Seeking Behavioral Health Care Under New VA Rule Can Find Specialized Programming Designed For Them

Advanced Recovery Systems celebrates the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' recent action to expand emergency health care to veterans in acute suicide crisis and announces that our nationwide network of healthcare facilities has beds available to accept veterans in need of behavioral health care. Using our specialty track, FORTITUDE, veterans can get the specific help they need, when they need it.

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Advanced Recovery Systems celebrates the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' recent action to expand emergency health care to veterans in acute suicide crisis and announces that our nationwide network of healthcare facilities has beds available to accept veterans in need of behavioral health care.

This update has life-saving potential, as VA Secretary for Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough recently explained: "Veterans in suicidal crisis can now receive the free, world-class emergency health care they deserve – no matter where they need it, when they need it, or whether they're enrolled in VA care. This expansion of care will save Veterans' lives, and there's nothing more important than that."

Having identified the urgent need for culturally competent treatment for veterans, our physician-led treatment centers are already part of the Community Care Network for Veterans and we have a specialty track, FORTITUDE, that was designed to provide evidence-based, trauma-informed care that addresses the unique experiences and struggles of our nation's veterans.

"We know that trauma can be a major barrier for veterans' and first responder's success in treatment. They often worry that their therapists won't understand their struggles, won't know how to help or worse, will judge them," says Clinical Director Jenna Moran, LPCC-S, LCDC III. "We designed the FORTITUDE program to address trauma with high-quality programming among their peers and led by trained clinical professionals that are passionate about working with them. It has been amazing seeing veterans and first responders work together while in treatment and begin to realize they aren't alone in this, and they can get better! They have sacrificed a lot and they are worthy of healing. We are thrilled to scale this program across our locations in the coming months."

Due to the nature of their work, veterans are at a higher risk than civilians of struggling with behavioral health issues like PTSD and substance abuse:

• More than 1 in 3 military service personnel meet criteria for hazardous drinking or possible alcohol use disorder.
• More than 2 of 10 Veterans with PTSD also have a substance use disorder.
• Almost 1 out of every 3 Veterans seeking treatment for SUD also has PTSD.
• In the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, about 1 in 10 returning Veterans seen in VA have a problem with alcohol or other drugs.

Advanced Recovery Systems has unparalleled experience treating over two thousand veterans, first responders and other public safety professionals using evidence-based, trauma-informed care. The FORTITUDE program reaffirms our commitment to supporting the behavioral health of men and women who make their careers out of saving lives and protecting communities.

"We are honored to serve the veteran community, who have sacrificed so much for their country. We recognize that they deserve top quality care and are dedicated to working with the VA and our community health partners to ensure that more of them receive the behavioral health care they deserve," says Josh Gold, Vice President of Corporate Development.

For more information about the FORTITUDE program and how to enroll a veteran in need, call 888-458-0612 or visit FirstResponderFortitude.com.

About Advanced Recovery Systems

Advanced Recovery Systems (ARS) is an integrated behavioral healthcare management company dedicated to the treatment of addiction, substance abuse and mental health conditions. The ARS network of treatment centers includes The Recovery Village Umatilla (Umatilla, Florida), The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake (Palmer Lake, Colorado), The Recovery Village Ridgefield (Ridgefield, Washington), The Recovery Village Columbus (Groveport, Ohio), Orlando Recovery Center (Orlando, Florida), The Recovery Village at Baptist Health (Lake Worth, Florida), The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper (Cherry Hill, New Jersey), and The IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery (Upper Marlboro, Maryland) ARS also manages outpatient locations in Orlando, FL and Miami, FL for those seeking outpatient treatment for addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders and Denver Mental Health and Counseling (Denver, Colorado) for primary mental health or substance use disorder admissions. For more information, visit http://www.AdvancedRecoverySystems.com.

Media Contact

Eric Mullins, Advanced Recovery Systems, 1 7134943210, emullins@advancedrecoverysystems.com

SOURCE Advanced Recovery Systems