TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla. — A new VA Clinic is opening its doors in Temple Terrace with a focus on mental health.

What You Need To Know

  • An all-new VA clinic is now open in Temple Terrace 

  • It was built to help veterans struggling with mental health 

  • According to a 2022 study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, half of veterans with a mental illness did not receive treatment within the previous year

The clinic is taking on all sorts of cases that range from substance abuse, to PTSD, and caring for the homeless.

It's a day that Dr. Glenn Smith, a retired mental health specialist with the VA, wasn't sure he would see.

"It's the fruition of a dream," he said. 

Smith, a veteran himself, said he remembers the pledge he made decades ago to his fellow veterans.

"The one thing I did say to those I served with is that I made them a promise," he said. "The promise is I will make this better."

Smith said the journey began in 2016 with grant money, and over the next seven years, he was an instrumental part in creating a plan to better serve veterans struggling with issues like mental illness and homelessness.

"When people are suffering, when they're hurting, they need to be able to reach out and to speak with someone."

According to a 2022 study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, half of veterans with a mental illness did not receive treatment within the previous year.

Smith is hopeful that this facility will not only serve the military community, but create a comfortable space. 

The clinic offers both inpatient services as well as outpatient services. It can be found at Temple Terrace Highway, just west of U.S. 301.