PORTLAND, Ore — The Regence Foundation announced today a $20,000 grant to Returning Veterans Project, an Oregon nonprofit providing free and confidential mental health counseling to returning military veterans and their families.

According to a recent study by the RAND Corporation, one in five veterans in the U.S. is suffering from mental health issues, such as post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety or depression. However, fewer than half of those 300,000 vets have received care. Locally, an estimated 300 veterans of the current wars already live on the streets of downtown Portland, and according to a 2008 report from the Governor’s Task Force on Veterans’ Services, an equal number of Oregon National Guardsmen and Reservists have committed suicide as have died in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan.

“The least the community can do for Oregon veterans is to ensure they have access to the care they need – both physical and emotional – when they return home from war,” said Michael Alexander, Regence Foundation board chair. “We’re proud to support Returning Veterans Project because they are taking decisive action to solve a significant and often ignored problem in our communities.”

One of the few organizations of its kind in the nation, Returning Veterans Project has 60 licensed health professionals who are trained to meet the unique short- and long-term mental health needs of veterans. In 2008, Returning Veterans Project treated more than 170 Oregon vets and their families. In addition to mental health counseling, the organization also offers complementary and alternative medical services such as acupuncture, chiropractic and naturopathic care.

“With about 2,500 Oregon National Guard members deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan this year, it’s more important than ever that we as a community work together to ensure they and their families have access to the support they need when they return,” said Carol Levine, LCSW, Returning Veterans Project founder. “Veterans appreciate the confidentiality and long-term therapy we offer, and we're gratified that we will now have the opportunity to expand these efforts.”

For more information about Returning Veterans Project, visit www.returningveterans.org.