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

Mental Health

Family Member or Friend

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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 programs and services to learn more.

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.
MakeTheConnection.net/stories/178