Lee Health now offers free mental health services to SWFL veterans — and their families

Pamela McCabe | The News-Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Vic Delnore, the son of a decorated WWII veteran recalls his childhood as a son of a veteran the son of a decorated WWII veteran recalls his childhood as a son of a veteran

More than 100,000 veterans in Southwest Florida and their families can now tap into free mental health services through Lee Health.

The initiative was announced Monday, on Veterans Day, at Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers, where Lee Health officials celebrated alongside their partner in this mission: Home Base Southwest Florida.

The nonprofit is part of the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program. Its focus is to help those who have served in the military work through the “invisible wounds of war.”

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With this partnership, veterans, their family and active service members who live in the five-county Southwest Florida region can be helped at no cost through the program, regardless of income, experience level or discharge status from the military.

Funding was provided by the Wounded Warrior Project and personal donations. Mental health services will be offered at Lee Health's Behavioral Health Clinic, 12550 New Brittany Blvd., Fort Myers.

Psychiatrist Eric Raab of Lee Health has been picked to lead the veterans-focused outpatient clinic.

Clinicians will take an "evidence-based" approach in working with veterans' mental and emotional health.

“While most military service members and veterans who return from deployment can reintegrate successfully into civilian life, an estimated one in three may experience mental health problems, such as PTS (post traumatic stress), major depression, and anxiety,” Raab said in a news release from Lee Health.

Raab sees the outpatient clinic as an opportunity for "local veterans to take that all-important first step in getting the vital care and services they need to begin the healing process."

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The expansion is a big step for Home Base Southwest Florida, explained Armando Hernandez, the program's director.

In the past, those in need of mental health services could take part in Home Base’s two-week intensive clinical program in Boston.

“This partnership with Lee Health will augment our ability to serve veterans in the area and ensure our veterans, impacted by the invisible wounds of war, receive access to timely and quality medical care," Hernandez said.

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The services will align also with Home Base's local wellness project, Warrior Health & Fitness Program, which has helped more than 250 local veterans work together on health goals, like weight loss.

After making an appearance at JetBlue Park, Gov. Ron DeSantis joined in the ribbon cutting for the event.

"As a fellow veteran who served in Iraq, I understand and appreciate the sacrifices made by our veterans, military members and their families," DeSantis said. "Many veterans are still fighting the invisible wounds of war and these new mental health services are critical to ensuring veterans in Southwest Florida can lead healthy lives."

Read: Gov. DeSantis to Vietnam veterans gathered at JetBlue Park: 'Thank you'

For information on services, contact Monique Hashimoto at homebaseswfl@partners.org or call 239-338-8389. Visit .homebase.org/SWFL for more information.

Connect with this reporter: pmccabe@news-press.com