Captain James A Lovell FHCC

This page describes VA mental health services offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to Veterans, service members transitioning to civilian life, and their families. The services address posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST), depression, grief, anxiety, suicide prevention, substance use problems, and related concerns such as trouble sleeping, anger management, and readjusting to civilian life. The page also lists health issues related to service era, including Operation Enduring Freedom, the Iraq War, the Gulf War, the Cold War era, Vietnam, Korea, and World War II, as well as exposure to hazardous materials and women's health care needs.

According to the page, more than 1.7 million Veterans received mental health services at VA in the past year. Services range from peer support with other Veterans to counseling, therapy, medication, or a combination of these options, with a stated goal of helping Veterans take charge of treatment and live a full and meaningful life. Some services can be used even by Veterans who are not enrolled in VA health care, regardless of discharge status, service history, or eligibility.

Access points include calling or walking in to any VA medical center at any time, day or night, or calling or walking in to any Vet Center during clinic hours. A general information line, 877-222-8387 (TTY 800-877-8339), is staffed Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, to help callers identify the right resources. Veterans in crisis, or people concerned about a Veteran, can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by calling 988 and selecting 1, texting 838255, or starting a confidential chat; the service is free, private, and available 24/7. Remote options include the VA telemental health program, which connects Veterans with a VA mental health provider by computer or mobile device from home or a VA facility, the free Veteran Training online self-help portal, and mental health smartphone apps. The BeThere peer assistance program, offered in partnership with Military OneSource, provides peer support from fellow service members.