{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"HowTo","@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/find-vet-mental-health.json#howto","name":"How to find veteran mental health resources","description":"Step-by-step guide to finding veteran mental health care. 4 paths: 988+1 crisis line, VA Mental Health, Vet Centers (FREE, no enrollment), and community providers accepting VA Community Care.","url":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/find-vet-mental-health.json","mainEntityOfPage":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/find-vet-mental-health.json","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"publisher":{"@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/wounded-warriors#organization"},"author":{"@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/wounded-warriors#organization"},"totalTime":"PT15M","yield":"Connected with appropriate veteran mental health resource","estimatedCost":{"@type":"MonetaryAmount","currency":"USD","value":"0"},"tool":[{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Phone (for 988+1 if in crisis)"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"DD-214 or VA enrollment for VA care"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"No requirements at all for Vet Centers"}],"step":[{"@type":"HowToStep","position":1,"name":"Step 1: If in crisis NOW, call 988 + Press 1","text":"Veterans Crisis Line — 988 then press 1. 24/7, free, confidential, Spanish-speaking operators available. Text 838255 or chat at veteranscrisisline.net. You do NOT need to be enrolled in VA. You do NOT need to be in immediate physical danger — call any time you're struggling.","url":"https://warriorsfund.org/crisis.html"},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":2,"name":"Step 2: For ongoing care: VA Mental Health (if enrolled)","text":"If you're enrolled in VA healthcare, your local VAMC has Mental Health services. Find your nearest VAMC at warriorsfund.org/resources?type=va-hospitals. Make a Mental Health appointment via VA.gov, the VA mobile app, or by calling your VAMC. Same-day urgent appointments available for veterans in crisis. Care covers individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, PTSD specialty care, MST counseling, and substance use disorder treatment.","url":"https://warriorsfund.org/resources/type/mental-health/"},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":3,"name":"Step 3: For ongoing care WITHOUT VA enrollment: Vet Centers","text":"Vet Centers are VA-funded readjustment counseling — FREE, NO ENROLLMENT REQUIRED, even for veterans with Other Than Honorable discharges. Services: individual + group counseling, marriage + family counseling, military sexual trauma (MST) counseling, bereavement counseling. Confidential — your records do not go in your VA file. Find your nearest Vet Center at warriorsfund.org/resources?type=vet-centers.","url":"https://warriorsfund.org/resources/type/vet-centers/"},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":4,"name":"Step 4: Community providers (private therapists)","text":"If VA + Vet Centers aren't a fit (geography, schedule, specialty), private therapists who accept VA Community Care are an option. Wounded Warriors' Mental Health resource directory at warriorsfund.org/resources/type/mental-health/ filters to providers who serve veterans. For specialty care (PTSD, MST, traumatic brain injury), look for providers with veteran-specific training credentials.","url":"https://warriorsfund.org/resources/type/mental-health/"}],"tip":[{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"Vet Centers serve EVEN OTH-discharged veterans. The \"no enrollment\" policy means MST survivors, combat-experience veterans, and family members can access counseling without VA bureaucracy."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"In crisis is broader than active suicidal ideation. Anxiety, depression, anger, isolation, sleep problems, relationship struggles all qualify for 988+1. You don't have to be in mortal danger to call."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"MST (Military Sexual Trauma) gets its own treatment track — free, confidential, covers all veterans regardless of discharge type. Specialized providers at most Vet Centers."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"24/7 access: 988+1 (call/text), 838255 (text only), veteranscrisisline.net/chat (chat). No insurance, enrollment, or paperwork."}],"canonical_url":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/find-vet-mental-health.json","publisher_legal_name":"Wounded Warriors","publisher_ein":"86-1336741","cross_references":{"crisis_html_en":"https://warriorsfund.org/crisis.html","crisis_html_es":"https://warriorsfund.org/crisis-es.html","crisis_jsonld":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/crisis.json","va_hospitals_search":"https://warriorsfund.org/resources/type/va-hospitals/","vet_centers_search":"https://warriorsfund.org/resources/type/vet-centers/","mental_health_search":"https://warriorsfund.org/resources/type/mental-health/","research_90_day_cliff":"https://warriorsfund.org/research/the-90-day-cliff"},"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","last_updated":"2026-04-29T23:54:01.878Z"}