Gillibrand critical of Trump administration mandate to bring mental health workers back to office

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Gillibrand critical of Trump administration mandate to bring mental health workers back to office

A Trump administration policy that affects veterans is getting pushback from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

A Trump administration policy that affects veterans is getting pushback from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

She’s criticizing the president’s decision to bring all mental health professions with the Veterans Administration back to the office.

Many of these professionals work remotely in order to provide care for veterans in remote areas, Gillibrand said.

Psychiatrists and therapists will be forced to conduct telehealth appointments from crowded office spaces and that this could compromise patient privacy, she said.

“Military personnel are already more likely to experience major depression compared to civilians, and veterans are more likely to die by suicide. Disruptions to their mental health treatment could be devastating, and we simply can’t allow the Trump administration to put their lives in jeopardy,” Gillibrand said.

The senator has sent a letter to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, asking to take action to reverse the Trump administration’s orders.