U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, is demanding immediate action to address worsening delays for Connecticut veterans seeking mental health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Blumenthal raised the alarm in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, citing VA data that shows wait times for new mental health appointments at several Connecticut clinics now exceed 100 days.

“Veterans seeking care for mental health conditions—many of whom have urgent and acute needs—deserve timely access to treatment with the highly qualified providers at VA who have unique knowledge and experience working with veterans and coordinating the wide variety of related services available exclusively through VA. The reports of significant delays are deeply troubling and raise urgent questions about the Department’s management of mental health access,” wrote Blumenthal.

He continued, “My staff has heard reports from veterans and their families who have been forced to wait weeks or even months for an initial mental health appointment. Such delays are not only inconsistent with VA’s stated access-to-care standards but also pose serious risks to the health and safety of those who served our nation.”

“These examples in Connecticut are not isolated and are likely indicative of a broader systemic issue that must be addressed immediately,” Blumenthal added, pointing to sharp increases at clinics in Orange, Willimantic, Winsted, and Stamford.