Mental Health

Overview

Health care providers both inside and outside of the VA health care system can play an essential role in helping America’s Veterans access the mental health support they have earned. VA has developed a Community Provider Toolkit with information and resources that can enhance your delivery of healthcare and ultimately to improve Veterans’ health and well-being. Explore our community provider toolkit to learn more.

Community Provider Toolkit

This toolkit was developed by VA clinicians and staff within the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention to provide key tools and resources for working with Veterans. It offers easily accessible information on screening patients for military experience, understanding military culture, and referring patients to VA, as well as tools for working with a variety of mental and behavioral health concerns.

Community Provider Toolkit

• Screening: It’s easy to ask if your client has served in the military and knowing your client’s military background can shape your treatment plan and help you identify appropriate resources and benefits.

• Military Culture: Many Veterans have attitudes, perceptions, and sensitivities shaped by their military experience. Awareness of common Veteran experiences and characteristics can be helpful in establishing a good rapport with your patients.

• Mini-Clinics: Mini-Clinics provide clinicians with easy access to Veteran-focused information and resources. In addition to offering a broader understanding of the Veteran population, many of the mini-clinics provide Veteran-focused case management and treatment tools.

• National Center for PTSD Consultation Program: Community providers working with Veterans and Service Members can request free consultation from National Center for PTSD experts.

• S.A.V.E. Online Suicide Prevention Training: VA launched the S.A.V.E. online suicide prevention training video in collaboration with PsychArmor Institute, a national nonprofit providing online education and support to those who work with, live with, or care for Service members, Veterans, and military and Veteran families. S.A.V.E. — which stands for “Signs,” “Ask,” “Validate,” and “Encourage” and “Expedite” — offers simple steps that anyone can take when talking with Veterans who are at risk for suicide.  The 25-minute video is available for free at https://psycharmor.org/courses/s-a-v-e.

• Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program: VA providers and community providers who work with Veterans can receive free, one-on-one consultation to enhance their therapeutic practice. To get started, email SRMconsult@va.gov. The administrative staff will set you up with the consultant who can best answer your questions. (Developed by the Rocky Mountain MIRECC)

• Suicide Prevention: A number of resources are available to community providers who work with Veterans and may be concerned about a Veteran in crisis.

• S.A.V.E. Online Suicide Prevention Training:  S.A.V.E. — which stands for “Signs,” “Ask,” “Validate,” and “Encourage” and “Expedite” — offers simple steps that anyone can take when talking with Veterans who are at risk for suicide.  The training video is available for free at https://psycharmor.org/courses/s-a-v-e.

• Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program: VA providers and community providers who work with Veterans can receive free, one-on-one consultation to enhance their therapeutic practice. To get started, email SRMconsult@va.gov.