Mar. 15--Clinical psychologists could collect six-figure bonuses for enlisting -- or staying -- in the Armed Forces under legislation proposed to address high rates of suicide and a critical shortage of mental health workers in the military.
The legislation, proposed Friday by U.S. Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut, and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., would offer extra money to a variety of behavioral health professionals and extend "critical skills" bonuses to psychologists and social workers who join the military, and to psychiatrists, social workers and mental health nurses who agree to stay in uniform. The Armed Forces Mental Health Professionals Recruitment and Retention Enhancement Act of 2008 would also expand scholarships and other special-pay programs for mental health workers.
Professionals with a doctorate in psychology who agree to serve as military officers for four years would be eligible for bonuses of as much as $100,000 each year under the proposed law. The legislation would also authorize bonuses as high as $25,000 a year for high-ranking mental health workers in the military who agree to extend their duty two to four years beyond their required commitment.
The bill provides smaller bonuses of $5,000 to $15,000 a year for social workers and mental health nurses.
The military has been stymied in efforts to increase the number of uniformed mental-health workers, both in the war zone and at home. In a report released last week, combat troops said access to mental health care became more difficult in 2007, and mental health workers reported higher rates of burnout.
About 200 psychologists and other behavioral health providers are deployed in Iraq, a number that has remained constant despite last year's troop surge. To boost that number, military health officials said last week they will begin recruiting civilian counselors willing to work in the war zone. Lieberman, however, said troops have a strong preference for uniformed providers.
Lieberman and Boxer also introduced legislation Friday that would establish an independent Defense Department board to investigate all suicides by service members, and would require the department to maintain a military-wide database of suicides and attempted suicides.
Suicides are typically investigated by the individual military branches, each of which keeps its own data and makes reports.
"Our highest priority must be an unwavering commitment to our service members," Lieberman said. "These bills will not only address current shortcomings, but will help build a stronger military mental health system for decades to come."
Contact Matthew Kauffman at mkauffman@courant.com.
Visit for more coverage and analysis of the Iraq war five years after invasion.
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Last updated: 04/14/2008 - 10:26 AM