The Department of Veterans Affairs' announced that three locations - Waco, Texas; San Diego and Canandaigua, NY - have been designated special centers of excellence devoted to advancing research and enhancing care for mental health issues that affect some American veterans.

The new centers, established under legislation and passed by Congress during the recent budget-making process, will provide a concentration of expertise on mental health issues.

While a detailed timeline for having the centers of excellence operational is still being developed, VA intends to submit a report within six months to committees in both houses of Congress outlining the progress being made in establishing the new mental health centers.