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VA » Health Care » Mental Health » Family Member or Friend

Mental Health

Family Member or Friend

Family Member or Friend

Overview

As a family member or friend of a Veteran, you can play an important role in providing support. People who are close to Veterans are often the first to notice that they are facing a mental health challenge. Letting a Veteran know you’re there for them can help start a conversation.

Depending on your relationship with the Veteran, and depending on what they’re going through, your support could range from a small act of kindness to intervening in a crisis.

As you support the Veteran in your life, VA is here to support you. Explore the Show Support page to learn more.

Coaching Into Care

This VA program provides guidance to Veterans’ family members and friends for encouraging a reluctant Veteran they care about to reach out for support with a mental health challenge.

Free, confidential assistance is available by calling 1-888-823-7458 Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET, or emailing CoachingIntoCare@va.gov.

Parenting Resources

Military OneSource Family Support: This site features information for Veterans and their families on parenting, family life, relationships, and more.
Parenting for Service Members and Veterans: This free training program helps Veteran parents manage their challenges, improve skills, and strengthen their families.
Parenting Toolkit: This resource comprises five toolkits for parents and care providers of infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers, school-age children, and teenagers), with guidance specifically for Veteran parents and their significant others.

Fact Sheet for Veterans and their Families

Returning from the War Zone: A Guide for Families of Military Personnel

As a military family member you want to understand what to expect during reintegration following time in a war zone, and to help your loved one adapt back to home life. Reintegration is an adjustment for all involved. This guide aims to make this process as smooth as possible.

Make the Connection

MakeTheConnection.net is a one-stop resource where Veterans and their families and friends can privately explore information on mental health, hear stories of resilience from fellow Veterans and their families, and easily find and access the support and resources they need. Watch video testimonials from Veterans who have found effective solutions to issues affecting their lives and learn more about treatment and recovery.

Stories of Support

In this video, spouses, partners, and other family members discuss what the Veterans in their lives experienced and how they were able to provide support along their shared journey of recovery. Loved ones also describe discovering that getting support for themselves helped them be more effective in helping their loved ones.