O'Mara: New state budget expands support for treating veterans suffering from Post-traumatic stress disorder ~ Corning doctor has been driving force behind development of innovative, successful treatment program

Albany, N.Y., March 30—In early March, State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) joined several of his Senate colleagues to call for increased state funding to support the expansion of a groundbreaking treatment program for military servicemen and servicewomen suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The 2015-2016 state budget, which will be approved by the Legislature this week and signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo, will include $800,000 to help expand the initiative, O’Mara said today.  

The project is known as the NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Research & Recognition Project – an innovative, cutting-edge treatment that has shown exciting and successful advances in the treatment of PTSD among veterans in New York State over the past several years at Fort Drum and other state facilities where it’s being used, particularly in the mid-Hudson Valley.

The project’s Executive Director is Dr. Frank J. Bourke of Corning, a clinical psychologist with more than three decades of experience in the field.  O’Mara said that he’s worked with Bourke over the past several years to help advance and promote the Research & Recognition Project in support of veterans and military families.

[In the photo above, Senator O'Mara, at podium, joined several of his legislative colleagues, veterans and project representatives to call for the increased state support.  Dr. Bourke is at the far right.  Watch Senator O'Mara's comments.]

“I’m a believer in this program and New York State getting behind its expansion is one of this budget’s highlights.  Post-traumatic stress disorder is a debilitating illness severely impacting the lives of thousands of our brave men and women returning from the battlefield,” said O’Mara, noting studies that have shown that 30 percent of soldiers develop mental health concerns within three to four months of returning home. “We have a high responsibility to provide our military men and women with treatments that can help them overcome the harrowing effects of PTSD and regain a healthy and productive life.  The Research and Recognition Project has delivered effective advancements in this field.  This additional financial support will begin turning around the lives of more and more veterans and, by extension, the lives of their families and loved ones in New York State and nationally."

Read more about the project at http://www.researchandrecognition.org.