Active Duty Military, Veterans, and their Families

Veterans and Active Duty

Military personnel have always taken care of their physical health, but mental health is equally essential. There are two primary mental health concerns that veterans, active service members, and/or their families may encounter:

• Postraumtic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Traumatic events, such as military combat, assault, disasters or sexual assault can have long-lasting negative effects such as trouble sleeping, anger, nightmares, being jumpy and alcohol and drug abuse. When these troubles don’t go away, it could be PTSD.
• Depression. More than just experiencing sadness, depression doesn’t mean you are weak, nor is it something that you can simply “just get over.” Depression interferes with daily life and normal functioning and may require treatment.

Take a look at the resources below if you or someone you love is showing signs of a mental health condition, such as those mentioned above.

Helping as a Family Member or Friend

As a friend or family members, it can be hard to know the best way to talk to veterans or active service members about mental illnesses and addictions.

A few resources that can help are listed below.

Resources For Help

Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP)
The CDP trains military and civilian behavioral health professionals to provide high-quality, culturally-sensitive, evidence-based behavioral health services to military personnel, veterans, and their families.

Department of Defense Deployment Health Clinical Center 
This website provides a list of resources for service members and their families and a link to the Department of Defense Mental Health Self-Assessment Program (alcohol and mental health screening).

Make the Connection
Watch Veterans and their family members share real stories of strength and recovery, find useful information and local mental health resources, and explore ways to show your support.

Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid is a valuable resource that can make a difference in the lives of the more than 22 million veterans, their families, and the communities they live in.

Military Crisis Line 
The Military Crisis Line connects a person in need to a trained counselor with a single phone call or click of a mouse.

Call: 1-800-273-8255, press 1
Text: 838255

Military OneSource

– Military OneSource Airforce
– Military OneSource Army
– Military OneSource Navy
– Military OneSource Marines

Military OneSource is a 24/7 connection to information, answers, and support when MilLife happens. This Department of Defense-funded program can help anyone in the military family overcome challenges, reach goals, and thrive.

Military OneSource Counseling
All active duty members are eligible for non-medical counseling. Non-medical counseling services are available for individuals, couples, families, and children. It can be delivered either face-to-face, by telephone, or online through secure chat. Counselors are professionally licensed and knowledgeable about military life. The counseling is private, short term, and available for up to 12 sessions per issue, and at no cost.

U.S. Toll-Free: 1-800-342-9647
En espanol llame: 877-888-0727
TTY/TDD: 866-607-6794
International Collect: 1-484-530-5908

Moving Forward 
Moving Forward is a free, online educational and life coaching program that teaches problem-solving skills to help you to better handle life’s challenges. It is designed to be especially helpful for veterans, service members and their families.

National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
This hotline is intended to assist homeless veterans or veterans at-risk for homelessness and give them access to trained counselors 24/7.

Call: 1-877-4AID VET (1-877-424-3838)

National Resource Directory (NRD)
The NRD connects wounded warriors, injured, and ill service members, veterans, and their families with national, state, and local support programs. The NRD is a partnership among the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs.

Objective Zero
The Objective Zero Foundation enhances social connectedness and access to wellness resources to combat suicide within the military community. Objective Zero is a mobile app that anonymously connects Users to a nationwide network of peer support and wellness resources, tools, and training.

Project Valour-IT 
This project provides voice-controlled laptops and personal GPS systems to service members recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries including traumatic brain injury and PTSD.

Psychological Health Program of the National Guard Bureau
The mission of the National Guard Psychological Health Program is to advocate, promote, and guide National Guard members and their families by supporting psychological fitness for operational readiness.

PTSD Coach App
The PTSD Coach app is a digital resource provided by the National Center for PTSD aimed at helping veterans learn more about and manage their symptoms of PTSD from anywhere. Through the PTSD Coach app you are able to use the built-in coping tools when you feel upset or stressed as well as create your own support network. You can also track your progress to see if symptoms are improving over time.

Real Warriors Campaign
The Real Warriors Campaign encourages help-seeking behavior among service members, veterans and military families coping with invisible wounds.

Spouse/Family Readiness
These groups are established to provide activities and support to enhance the flow of information, increase the resiliency of unit soldiers and their families, provide practical tools for adjusting to military deployments and separations, and enhance well-being within the unit.

U.S. Army Public Health Center
The former U.S. Army Public Health Command has been renamed the Army Public Health Center as part of an overall Army Medical Command External Link reorganization. Their mission is to enhance Army readiness by identifying and assessing current and emerging health threats, developing and communicating public health solutions, and assuring the quality and effectiveness of the Army’s Public Health Enterprise.

Call: 1-800-222-9698

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
The VA’s vision is provide veterans the world-class benefits and services they have earned — and to do so by adhering to the highest standards of compassion, commitment, excellence, professionalism, integrity, accountability, and stewardship.

Veterans Affairs Vet Center
Vet Center’s purpose is welcome home war veterans with honor by understanding and appreciating Veteran’s war experiences while assisting them and their family members toward a successful post-war adjustment in or near their community. Vet Center services are provided at no cost to veterans or their family.

Call: 1-877-927-8387

Veteran’s Crisis Line
Connect with the Veterans Crisis Line to reach caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many of them are Veterans themselves.

Call: 1-800-273-8255, press 1
Text: 838255
Chat online: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/chat/

Veteran Service Organizations

– American Legion
– American Veterans
– Blinded Veterans Association
– Disabled American Veterans
– Jewish War Veterans
– Military Order of the Purple Heart
– National Association for Uniformed Services
– Paralyzed Veterans of America
– Veterans of Foreign Wars
– Vietnam Veterans of America

Veteran Training
The veteran online self-help portal provides tools to help veterans overcome everyday challenges. The portal has tools to help veterans work on problem-solving skills, manage anger, develop parenting skills, and more. All tools are free and entirely anonymous, and are based on proven mental health practices that have been successful with veterans and their families.

Vet2Vet Program
The goal of this program is to enhance a veteran’s self-esteem and self-worth, improve connectedness to civilian society, reduce dependency on emergency services, reduce stigma through friendship, and create a strong an supportive environment to successful lead our veterans on the road to recovery.

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