The department of Veterans Affairs recently announced that the department would add approximately sixteen hundred mental health clinicians and nearly 300 support staff to it's existing workforce. So, what does that mean for Gainesville?

Dr. Peter Durand is the director of Mental health Services at Malcom Randall VA, he says that fifty eight clinicians and twelve supporting staff members will be hired  to place teams at each of the VA's larger satellite clinics.

He says this will enable the VA to put specialized resources in locations where they can also serve as  community based out patient clinics.

Dr. Durand also says that currently the VA's mental health staff has not had the capability to provide the in-depth, intensive services that many of the veteran patients need, who live in the surrounding areas. The increase in staff will allow for that type of care.

VA anticipates the majority of the mental health clinicians to be hired locally within six months.