More than 20 veterans commit suicide every day. Organizations such as 22 Kill and Active Heroes have brought a lot of awareness to the mental healthcare needs of those who have served our nation, but the truth is, no matter how aware we are of suicidality in veterans, they are still choosing to take their own lives at a rate higher than any other population of people.
However, hope could be closer than ever for veterans suffering from PTSD and severe depression. The Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Cleveland has rolled out a program to offer a series of six ketamine infusions to veterans who have resisted other methods of depression treatment, and who are at high-risk of suicide. Ketamine infusions effectively alleviate depressive symptoms in up to 70% of patients, and oftentimes generate positive results after just 1-2 infusions.
Dr. Punit Vaidya, who is spearheading the VA’s ketamine program, hopes that ketamine infusions will help alleviate depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts enough to bridge these patients into other treatments, such as psychotherapy. We find this same approach to be effective at our Colorado ketamine clinics: those patients who find reprieve from their depressive symptoms can be more seamlessly transitioned into other depression therapies that further improve their symptoms and increase the quality of their daily lives.
It’s a positive development for the VA to introduce ketamine infusion therapy into their arsenal of depression treatments. We hope to see more VA medical centers integrate these treatments into their repertoires. While ketamine infusions are widely available at private ketamine clinics across the country, they are oftentimes financially inaccessible to veterans. Our clinic offers several financing options to help patients gain access to ketamine infusions, and we are proud to offer substantial discounts to those who served our country. For veterans to be able to receive ketamine treatments through the VA would be a huge step in the right direction to prevent suicide and improve their quality of life.
CONTACT VITALITAS DENVER
Our ketamine clinics, located near Denver and the Boulder/Fort Collins area, offer ketamine infusions for PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and other psychiatric disorders. Our ketamine infusions are priced at $350/infusion—the lowest price in the country. We also offer financing options to help those suffering receive the care they need. If you or a loved one is suffering, please contact us using the brief form below. We are happy to answer your questions, address your concerns, and help you determine whether ketamine infusions are an appropriate treatment for you.