In some cases, veterans have threatened to commit suicide in order to gain simple medical assistance from the U.S. government. To help with this growing concern, congresswoman Doris Matsui came to Sacramento State Wednesday to discuss concerns with student veterans.

“The money is there, but the system that is in place is not the best,” Matsui said during the conference. “Talk with us so that we can figure out what we can do to better our system.”

Both Matsui and veterans talked about the various concerns about education and healthcare with an emphasis on mental health.

Veterans were not intimidated to voice their ideas not only as a group, but individually as well. Some veterans shared personal stories of their own and of people they knew who have been overlooked by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or otherwise treated poorly.

Some stories included cases where officials would tell veterans that they were “fine” when they clearly were suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. One participant spoke of the injustice of involuntary reactivation.

Another young man spoke of a friend who called a suicide help line as a desperate plea to finally be seen. His request was answered two weeks later.

Veterans and Matsui alike hope that the meeting will lead to further discussion and eventually action so veterans are given better care not only in their campus life, but in the rest of life as well.

“The interest that Congresswoman Matsui showed by getting people’s e-mails and business cards demonstrated genuine concern and interest in continuing this and helping these people,” said junior history film major Keith Legget.

Matsui and others hope the efforts made on the governmental, educational and veteran sides will combine to create a better system for assisting the men and women who have served in the armed forces.

“I think more will be accomplished by having President Gonzalez here, too instead of just Matsui. I think it was a lot more effective by having them both,” Legget said.

Joni Hazard can be reached at [email protected]