Navigating Mental Health Care for Veterans

Military service often leaves a lasting impact on veterans' mental health, with unique challenges emerging from their experiences in service. Many resources are available to help you maintain your mental well-being as you transition back to civilian life or seek to improve your overall quality of life. By understanding these options, veterans can access necessary treatments effectively and affordably.

Various mental health care options are available for veterans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Over 1.7 million veterans have received services such as counseling, therapy, peer support and medication from the VA. If you’re already a VA patient, you can access these services by speaking with your primary care provider to arrange a referral to a VA mental health specialist. If you are new to VA services, contact your nearest VA medical center or vet center to discuss your mental health needs.

Below are some mental health services provided by the VA:

• VA Disability Compensation
• Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM)
• Veterans Recovery House
• Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC)
• VA Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Programs

If you're unsure about what kind of help is needed, you can call 877-222-8387 or TTY service at 800-877-8339 for those with hearing impairments for guidance tailored to your situation. 

VA disability compensation offers a monthly tax-free payment to veterans who became ill or were injured during military service, as well as those whose pre-existing conditions were exacerbated by service. This compensation covers both physical and mental health conditions, including PTSD.

To qualify, veterans must demonstrate that their mental or physical health condition was caused or worsened by their military service. Eligibility requires service on active duty, active duty for training or inactive duty training and a condition linked directly to service.

The MHICM provides intensive case management for veterans diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illnesses requiring more support than traditional outpatient services offer. To qualify for this program, a veteran must live within one hour's drive of Fayetteville, AR, and meet the following requirements:

• Diagnostic Criteria: Suitable candidates must have a primary diagnosis of severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD or major affective disorders with psychosis. Substance use disorders cannot be the primary condition.
• Treatment Needs: Candidates must require more intensive services than those provided by standard outpatient treatments and demonstrate a potential benefit from the program.
• Functional Impairment: Eligible candidates must exhibit significant functional impairment that impedes independent living or participation in necessary treatments without intensive support.
• Resource Utilization: Candidates should demonstrate an extensive use of psychiatric services, including multiple hospitalizations or frequent emergency interventions, which indicate a need for more robust support.

The Veterans Recovery House at the VA's Vancouver, WA, campus is an inpatient program offering comprehensive behavioral and medical health care to veterans facing homelessness or seeking substance abuse treatment. The facility has 29 beds and supports both male and female veterans. It provides individualized treatment tracks for Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans (DCHV) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Services include clinical groups, individual sessions, meals and recreational activities.

The program welcomes all male and female veterans of the active U.S. Armed Forces, regardless of how long they served, except those with dishonorable discharges. While spouses and children are not eligible to participate, the program provides support to help veterans' families secure suitable housing.

The PRRC is a center located in San Francisco, CA, dedicated to supporting veterans struggling to maintain daily activities due to mental health issues. It offers a combination of individual and group services that focus on identifying strengths, learning new skills and setting personal goals. Veterans work closely with a recovery coach to plan and advance toward these goals, utilizing classes and one-to-one services to overcome obstacles.

Veterans eligible for PRRC services must have a diagnosis of a severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression or PTSD. They must also consult with a VA mental health provider and demonstrate the desire and the ability to engage in the program.

VA SUD programs address substance use disorders, offering therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET). Veterans can take a confidential, anonymous questionnaire to assess potential signs of substance use disorders. The program emphasizes self-assessment and provides various evidence-based therapies to manage addiction effectively.

Veterans seeking SUD treatment can also inquire at local VA Medical Centers, Vet Centers and VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinics, even if a specific SUD Program is unavailable onsite. Veterans can use the SAMHSA treatment locator or the VA's directory for SUD programs for broader treatment options outside the VA.

Veterans seeking to manage the costs of mental health care can use several strategies to minimize expenses while ensuring they receive the necessary support:

Veterans and their families have access to a wide range of additional mental health resources beyond traditional VA services. Here's an overview of some key resources available to enhance veteran mental health and well-being:

• BeThere: The BeThere peer assistance program supports service members, their families and transitioning veterans for up to 365 days after separation or retirement. Participants can speak confidentially with peer coaches by calling Military OneSource’s free, confidential peer support services at 800-342-9647.
• Fisher House Foundation: Best known for its network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. This support is crucial for long-term treatments and rehabilitation.
• Give an Hour: A nonprofit organization offering free, confidential mental health services to U.S. military personnel, veterans and their families. Licensed mental health professionals volunteer to provide counseling without a set session limit, covering issues like depression, anxiety, PTSD and adjustment challenges. The organization also focuses on reducing mental health stigma through education and outreach.
• Hope for the Warriors: Offers extensive support programs for service members, veterans, and their families, emphasizing transition assistance, health and wellness, peer engagement and connections to community resources.
• PsychArmor Institute: Offers critical resources to Americans to effectively engage with and better support military members, veterans and their families across our nation. They provide free online courses specifically designed to educate on various issues affecting veterans.
• Team Red, White and Blue: This nonprofit organization enhances the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.
• Vet Centers: Provides a range of free counseling services to eligible service members, veterans and their families, regardless of enrollment in VA health care or disability compensation status. Services include individual and group counseling, couples and family counseling, military sexual trauma counseling, readjustment counseling, bereavement counseling, substance use assessments and assistance with applying for VA benefits.
• Veteran Training: Offers tools to manage challenges like anger, parenting and problem-solving. Based on proven mental health practices, these resources are free without signing in or providing personal information.
• Veterans Yoga Project: This organization supports recovery and resilience among veterans, their families and communities through yoga practices. It offers online and in-person classes specifically tailored to veterans dealing with PTSD and other stress-related issues.
• Wounded Warrior Project (WWP): WWP offers a variety of programs and services to injured veterans, including mental health support through its Warrior Care Network, which provides access to mental health care, wellness workshops and more.