Mental Health

Fact Sheet: Emergent Mental Health Care for Former Service Members

19 July 2017

This fact sheet is designed to explain services available to former service members with other-than-honorable (OTH) administrative discharges and urgent mental health needs.

Because suicide prevention is the Department of Veterans Affairs’ top clinical priority, it is important for former service members to know there is someplace they can turn if they are facing a mental health emergency — whether it means urgent care at a VA emergency department, a Vet Center or through the Veterans Crisis Line.

Read the full fact sheet.

Video: PTSD Awareness

Published on Jun 30, 2017

There are many misconceptions about Veterans and PTSD. Understanding what we really know can help Veterans connect with the services they need to live a better life. Clinical Research Psychologist, Dr. Suzanne McGarity from the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention describes what research shows about Veterans and PTSD.

Learn more a the National Center for PTSD

Learn about PTSD from Veterans at AboutFace

After a trauma or life-threatening event, reactions such as upsetting memories, increased jumpiness, or trouble sleeping are common. When these reactions do not go away or worsen, then Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may be present. Veterans and Servicemembers are at an elevated risk for PTSD. Various factors contribute to PTSD including combat situations which can add more stress to an already stressful situation. Another cause of PTSD in the military can be military sexual trauma (MST) which, can happen to both men and women and can occur during peacetime, training, or war.

VA’s National Center for PTSD invites you to Raise PTSD Awareness during the month of June to help those with PTSD. We encourage everyone to learn, connect, and share with others:

• Learn about PTSD Basics such as causes, symptoms and, PTSD Treatment
• Connect to services if you think you or someone you know has PTSD.
• Share with us on Facebook or Twitter and Join our PTSD Awareness campaign! We have tips and materials to help you organize an event or share information about PTSD and effective treatments.

To join in and learn more visit Help Raise PTSD Awareness at www.ptsd.va.gov/about/ptsd-awareness/