Supporting Veteran Mental Health – A Guide for Friends and Family

It can be difficult to help a veteran with mental health issues. However, it is important to recognize that it is often in a veteran’s best interest to seek help as soon as possible.

Fortunately, there are many charities that support veterans’ mental health. These charities offer services that can make a huge difference for veterans and their loved ones.

1. Listen

As a friend or family member of a veteran, you may be struggling with how to support him or her with mental health issues. This guide will help you better understand how to listen to your veteran and what resources are available to support them.

Often, veterans who have served in the military have experienced trauma, stress and separation, all of which can cause mental health problems. These symptoms include PTSD, anxiety and depression.

The best way to support your veteran is to listen and encourage him or her to seek help when needed. You can also refer them to resources that provide mental health care or information that is tailored for their specific needs.

Getting quality care is key to recovery and reduces the likelihood of a number of negative outcomes, including problems with relationships and work. Having access to high-quality care and a positive experience with it can make a big difference for veterans who are struggling with mental health and substance use conditions.

2. Encourage

During their time serving in the military, veterans encounter all sorts of traumatic events. Those experiences often carry over into civilian life, which can make them vulnerable to mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research reports that about 20 percent of veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan are diagnosed with PTSD or clinical depression.

These mental health conditions can significantly impact the lives of service members and their families. If a veteran is depressed, help them get professional treatment and referrals to support services.

Studies have found that promoting mental health engagement, such as providing information about mental health or substance use disorders, can increase the likelihood of veterans seeking care. Additionally, providing supportive relationships can reduce the risk of relapse or substance abuse.

3. Refer

Mental health conditions are common in veterans. They can include PTSD, anxiety, depression, and traumatic brain injury.

Symptoms can be hard to recognize, so it is important to listen without judgment and offer encouragement. You can also suggest getting help from a professional.

If you have a veteran in your life who is struggling with a mental health condition, consider making an appointment for them with a therapist. This can provide them with the care they need and make a positive difference in their life.

Many veterans with a mental health need struggle to get the care they need. They are unable to easily schedule appointments with VA mental health clinicians and have difficulty understanding the process of enrollment in the VA system.

4. Support

While military service often fosters resilience in individuals and families, it also carries its own challenges. In particular, a large number of Veterans have mental health conditions that require treatment.

This is particularly true of those who experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and post-traumatic stress injury (SI). The VA estimates that the societal costs associated with these conditions can be as high as $6.2 billion per year in 2007 dollars.

Despite these daunting statistics, there is much that can be done to support our friends and family who may be experiencing mental health issues. Here are some suggestions for what you can do to help.