The VA Western New York Health Care System will be part of a new VA-wide training program for psychologists meant to meet increased need for mental-health services for veterans.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that the Buffalo site will be one of 26 across the country to host a new post-doctoral fellowship program for 98 psychology trainees.

"Not all the wounds of war are visible," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James Peake. "VA is committed to ensuring veterans receive world-class care for mental-health services. This initiative meets our short-term needs, but it will also guarantee we have a pool of well-trained psychologists in the future."

The VA has more than 11,000 mental-health professionals, including 800 psychologists hired in the last three years, to care for veterans. Because psychology is a part of comprehensive health care, the VA anticipates an ongoing need to employ more psychologists.

In addition to the fellowship program, the VA will create a new internship training program with 61 positions at four VA locations. Also, 31 existing internship programs and 17 existing postdoctoral fellowship programs have been expanded.