Last October, the San Diego VA notified Kadima Neuropsychiatry Institute in La Jolla that it would not renew authorizations for veterans to receive ketamine treatments there. For Marine veteran Kiaya Bender that means he will be transferred back to the VA this November for an alternative treatment for his severe depression.
This is the second of two videos inewsource has done with Bender, who discusses in both his history with depression and how ketamine has affected his life. It’s part of inewsource’s Veterans Voices series. Click here to see the first video.
In this second video, Bender and his wife, Shelby, share their uncertainty and fear as they approach the change in his mental health care.
This video includes Bender’s accounts of suffering from suicidal thoughts. Those who watch it should know that help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 or the San Diego Access and Crisis Line at (888) 724-7240.
