1 in 4 active duty military service members and spouses recounted a suicide in the past year within their unit or command, according to a report by Blue Star Families. To aid military members and their families, a mental health clinic serving veterans and members of the military opened this month in Manhattan.
The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone is located across from the Bill Snyder Family Stadium at 1960 Kimball Ave., Suite 375.
According to their website, the Cohen Veterans Network is a national not-for-profit network of mental health clinics. Their partnership with Centerstone, a nonprofit health system that specializes in mental health and substance use disorder treatments, will offer confidential therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder, adjustment issues, transition from military life challenges, depression, anxiety and other concerns.
Post-9/11 veterans, service members of all branches — including the National Guard and Reserves — regardless of activation status and military family members of post-9/11 veterans and service members are eligible at the clinic. This includes siblings, caregivers, a spouse or partner, children, parents and families of choice.
According to Katie Hund, clinic director of the Kansas location with CVN and a K-State alumna, service members and veterans have the ability to determine who counts as family, and who can access the clinic’s services.
“The goal is to remove as many barriers to mental health care as possible,” Hund said.
The clinic offers evidence-based treatment methods from scientific studies to “focus on high-quality care,” Hund said.
The clinic allows care for veterans and service members regardless of discharge status and offering telehealth services. Hund said that there is “such a need for service in rural Kansas,” and these telehealth services allow them to reach more communities.
According to Hund, the clinic offers child watch for clients who want to attend sessions in person but don’t have accessible childcare. The clinic can also set up Uber rides for clients who may not have transportation.
“We have staff that are specifically trained in working with military families,” Hund said. “All of the staff and care is focused heavily on what is best for client needs and their specific life experiences as military family or veterans. The treatment is customized to each client’s needs and lasts 10-12 weeks.”
To set up an appointment or find out more, the clinic is available even though they are not open yet. To reach the clinic, call 785-370-6400 or email [email protected].