Mental Health
Veteran Looking for Support: Veteran Resources
Veterans Looking for Support
Veteran Resources
As a Veteran, you might experience difficult life events or challenges after leaving the military. We’re here to help no matter how big or small the problem may be. VA has resources to address the unique stressors and experiences that Veterans may face.
Digital resources for mental health and related challenges
VA Mobile Apps
VA mental health apps provide education, coping tools, and symptom and wellness trackers for those with a mental health-related condition. Treatment companion apps, for use with a health care provider, are designed to make treatment easier.
Self-help apps
- AIMS for Anger Management
AIMS for Anger Management is for anyone experiencing problematic anger. - Beyond MST
Beyond MST is a free, secure, and private self-help mobile app created specifically to support the health and well-being of survivors of MST. - Mindfulness Coach
Mindfulness Coach is designed to support independent mindfulness practice. - PTSD Coach
PTSD Coach supports the self-management of PTSD. - PTSD Family Coach
PTSD Family Coach is for partners, family members, and other loved ones of individuals who may be experiencing PTSD. - VetChange
VetChange can be used by anyone and was designed to help those with PTSD reduce or stop unhealthy drinking. - Veterans Wellness Path
Veterans Wellness Path offers mental health support for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans.
Treatment companion apps
- ACT Coach
ACT Coach is for people participating in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to help them practice ACT skills in daily life. - CBT-i Coach
CBT-i Coach is for people who have difficulty sleeping and are participating in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). - CPT Coach
CPT Coach is for people with PTSD who are participating in cognitive processing therapy (CPT). - PE Coach
PE Coach is for people with PTSD who are participating in prolonged exposure (PE) therapy. - STAIR Coach
STAIR Coach is for people who have experienced trauma and are participating in skills training in affective and interpersonal regulation (STAIR). - Strength at Home
Strength at Home is for people who may be at risk for intimate partner violence and are participating in the Strength at Home group program.
Related apps
- Concussion Coach
Concussion Coach is for individuals who have experienced a concussion or sustained a head injury. - Couples Coach
Couples Coach was created for partners who want to improve their relationship and explore new ways to connect. - Insomnia Coach
Insomnia Coach is for anyone who would like to improve their sleep. - Pain Coach
Pain Coach is for anyone who experiences chronic pain or has any pain that disrupts their life. - Safety Plan
Safety Plan was created for anyone who experiences thoughts of suicide or self-harm. - Stay Quit Coach
Stay Quit Coach helps people cut back or quit all forms of tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco. - WellWithin Coach
WellWithin Coach was created to support the mental health and well-being of women Veterans.
Resources to support mental health
Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) for PTSD
Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT)—PTSD is a web-based course for family members of Veterans working to manage PTSD. This course teaches family members how to encourage their Veteran to get treatment and support them during care. It also offers tools for family members to improve their own quality of life.
Make the Connection
MakeTheConnection.net is a one-stop resource where Veterans and their family members and friends can explore information on life stressors and mental health symptoms. Visit this website to hear stories from Veterans on the challenges they faced when transitioning from the service and how they addressed related mental health concerns.
Military OneSource
This resource offers a wide range of individualized consultations, coaching, and counseling to help warrior guardians, military families, and the entire global military community to live the best possible military life.
Access Military OneSource 24/7 online or by phone at 800‑342‑9647.
National Center for PTSD Animated Videos
These brief animated videos explain what PTSD is and describe effective treatments. There are also videos on disaster recovery and how PTSD treatment can improve quality of life. Two Spanish-language videos round out the series.
PTSD Coach Online
The expanded desktop version of the mobile app gives you 17 tools to choose from to help you manage stress. Learn to manage troubling symptoms following trauma, such as sleep, trauma reminders, and anger. A mobile app is also available.
PTSD Treatment Decision Aid
The PTSD Treatment Decision Aid is an interactive, online tool for Veterans with PTSD and their family members. With the Decision Aid, users can explore information about PTSD, compare effective treatment options, and choose treatment options that best match their personal needs.
Reach.gov
Use this site to get support that is designed specifically for you. If you’re a family member or friend, you can also find resources that are designed specifically for the Veteran in your life.
RESET for Active-duty Soldiers
RESET is a 1-hour video training that aims to help soldiers cope with intrusive thoughts—unwanted thoughts and memories—that may occur following deployment. The approach RESET uses focuses on teaching the most effective strategies to manage unwanted thoughts. Short audio exercises help RESET users reinforce the skills learned during the video training.
Veteran Training
Veteran Training
Whether you are a Veteran facing challenges such as anger management or substance use, a provider supporting Veterans, or a family member seeking helpful resources, VeteranTraining.va.gov is here for you. This award-winning VA resource offers an extensive selection of self-guided online courses addressing practical topics, including parenting, insomnia, and developing healthy coping skills. Each course features interactive videos and activities that make learning enjoyable and accessible for a wide range of users. All resources are free, confidential, and available 24/7 wherever you have internet access—on your phone, laptop, or tablet. Courses include:
- Academic Success for Student Veterans
- Alcohol and Drug Education
- Anger & Irritability Management Skills
- Moving Forward
- My Recovery Plan
- Parenting for Veterans
- Path to Better Sleep
Resources that support health and well-being
MOVE!
VA’s MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans can help you adopt a healthy lifestyle, meet your health goals, and manage your weight. Participating in MOVE! can increase your ability and confidence to make healthy behavior, nutrition, and physical activity changes. If you have a higher body weight, losing 5% to 10% of your weight can improve your health. Keeping a weight that is healthy for you can help you feel good and have energy to do the things you want to do.
National VA Chaplain Service
The National VA Chaplain Service program provides spiritual care and support to Veterans, helping them navigate life's challenges and enhance their mental health. VA Chaplain Service offers spiritual care to Veterans of all faiths and beliefs. Chaplains are specially trained to provide compassionate, confidential support, helping Veterans find meaning, purpose, and hope in their lives.
Recreation Therapy/Creative Arts Services
VA’s Recreation Therapy/Creative Arts Services program is dedicated to helping Veterans enhance their quality of life through therapeutic activities. These services promote better mental health by encouraging physical activity, creative expression, and social connection. This program offers a range of recreational and creative activities tailored to Veterans' needs. By addressing physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs, these activities help build resilience and enhance overall quality of life.
VA Adaptive Sports and Arts
The VA Adaptive Sports and Arts program offers Veterans the opportunity to engage in physical and creative activities. By helping Veterans to stay active, express themselves, learn skills, set and achieve goals, and connect with others and the community—these activities reduce stress, build confidence, and support emotional well-being and mental health.
Vet Centers
Community-based Vet Centers provide confidential counseling, community engagement and referral services to eligible individuals and their families. You don’t need to be enrolled in VA healthcare or have a service connection to receive services. Find a Vet Center near you or call 877‑927‑8387, 24/7 to talk with a fellow Veteran about your experiences.
Vet Center call center
Call 877‑927‑8387, 24/7 to reach the Vet Center call center and talk about your military experience or other concerns during your transition from military to civilian life. The team is comprised of Veterans from several eras, as well as family members of Veterans.
Veterans Socials
Veterans Socials provide an enjoyable place to meet friends, find resources, and have fun with other Veterans and community members. Explore this page to learn more about these events, view a brief video, and download the Quick Start Guide for Veterans Socials.
Whole Health
The Whole Health approach combines traditional medical care with other practices to support your overall well-being, and through this, your mental health. Well-being and mental health are addressed through activities, tools, and learning opportunities that focus on the mind-body connection, family, friends, and community, and healthy lifestyle choices. By focusing on what matters most to you and using a variety of tools and practices, Whole Health aims to support your mental health and help you live a healthier, happier life.
Transition assistance, benefits, and financial support
DoD Transition Assistance Program
The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) provides information, tools and training to ensure active Service members, their spouses and/or caregivers are prepared for the next step in civilian life—whether pursuing additional education, finding a job in the public or private sector, or starting their own business. This program promotes mental health by addressing the challenges of readjustment and ensuring a smooth transition process through the use of training, tools, workshops, counseling and support groups, and more.
FINVET
FINVET, the National Veterans Financial Resource Center, was created because financial well-being is related to better mental health and lower risk of suicide. FINVET takes a proactive approach to boost protective factors. Our mission is clear: we want to act as a bridge, linking Veterans to resources that help them better manage their money, so that every Veteran can earn more, save more, and keep their money safe.
National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
If you are or know a Veteran who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, you may contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans. The call center is also available to Veterans’ family members and friends, VA medical centers, VA partners, community agencies, and service providers.
- Call 24/7 at 877‑424‑3838.
- Chat online through Homeless Veterans Crisis Chat.
National Resource Directory (NRD)
The NRD was developed through a partnership among the departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs. This directory provides service members, Veterans, and their families access to services and resources at the national, state, and local levels to support recovery, rehabilitation, and community reintegration.
Returning service members
Explore this page to find information about VA benefits, eligibility, and family support services for post-9/11 Veterans.
Veterans Benefits Administration
This is the official U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs site that provides Veterans and their dependents, survivors, and related parties with information and access to VA benefits. Veterans benefits help Veterans and their families buy homes, earn degrees, start careers, stay healthy, and more.
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