The Temple Terrace VA Clinic is making strides in mental health care for Veterans in Tampa Bay. Recognizing a real need for these services, a new outpatient and residential clinic opened in December 2023. This means that access to care is easier than ever for local Veterans.
Anyone who has served can seek help at the clinic. It doesn’t matter if they are struggling with homelessness or just need timely support. As Ronald Gironda, Deputy Chief of Health and Behavioral Services, puts it: “Our no wrong door approach assures that whatever way they come, they are going to get great services.”
The clinic provides a wide range of services, including:
- General mental health care
- Treatment for PTSD
- Suicide prevention
- Programs for substance use
- Support for military sexual trauma
- Domiciliary care for homeless Veterans
- Help with psychiatric disorders
- Counseling for relationship issues
- Addressing anxiety, addiction, and personality disorders
Common conditions treated at the clinic include:
- Addiction
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Trauma
- PTSD
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- OCD
Rebecca Marsh, a Veteran and recent patient, shared her experience. She has faced severe challenges, including homelessness and addiction. “I am a meth addict and I decided that I wanted to change my life,” she said, expressing her gratitude for the support she’s receiving. In just two weeks at the clinic, she’s started to feel hopeful. “It’s an amazing program. I’ve been here for 14 days and already, I never want to go back to drugs.”
The clinic’s mission is to help Veterans return to normal lives. Glenn Catalano, Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health, emphasizes the goal of enabling recovery, not long-term dependency. “We want to see people get better and go on with their lives issue free.”
One notable change at the clinic is the consolidation of services in one location. This improvement reduces the need for Veterans to travel to multiple places for care. “Veterans can access a number of different services under one roof,” Catalano explained. This design allows quick referrals between specialists, making care more efficient.
This streamlined approach is especially crucial for Veterans at risk of suicide. Stephanie Miller, the clinic’s Suicide Prevention Team Lead, manages a caseload of 160 to 220 high-risk Veterans at any given time. She emphasizes the importance of early intervention. “We provide outreach calls to engage them in care and ensure they have regular mental health visits,” she said.
The clinic also offers immediate support for homeless Veterans. They can walk in and receive help, including housing assistance. This means that any homeless Veteran can find essential services quickly.
The ultimate goal of the Temple Terrace VA Clinic is to help every Veteran build a healthier, happier future. Advances in care and accessibility are steps toward achieving this goal. For more details about the clinic and available services, you can visit their website here.
