The James E. Van Zandt Medical Center plans to hire 10 additional mental health staff as part of a national push to offer more help to veterans returning from combat duty in the Middle East.
 
A department spokesperson also says two additional support personnel will be hired to assist the counselors. Currently, 25 mental health clinicians and support staff work locally to support Veterans in the 14 counties that the medical facility serves.
 
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced earlier this year that it would add about 1,900 mental health workers at facilities nationwide. The new workers in Altoona are expected to start at the facility within the next six months.
 
The counselors will be responsible for helping veterans deal with the issues of post-traumatic stress disorder and readjusting to civilian life after serving overseas.