How to get mental health care as a veteran — the Veterans Crisis Line, VA mental health services, Vet Centers, telehealth and peer support, with or without VA enrollment
VA mental health services cover posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, grief, the effects of military sexual trauma, substance use, sleep and anger problems, and readjustment to civilian life, with care ranging from peer support to counseling, therapy and medication; more than 1.7 million veterans used them last year. If you are enrolled in VA health care, your primary care provider can arrange an appointment; if you are not, contact the nearest VA medical center or Vet Center, or call 877-222-8387 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. ET) to find the right resource. Vet Centers provide free individual, group, couples and family counseling, MST counseling, bereavement counseling and substance use assessment to eligible veterans and service members without VA enrollment or a disability rating, and their call center is open around the clock at 877-927-8387. Veterans with other than honorable discharges can still get care for PTSD, other mental health problems and MST-related conditions. In a crisis, dial 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online, any time.
What you'll need
- Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988 then press 1, text 838255, or chat at veteranscrisisline.net (24/7, no enrollment)
- VA mental health resource line 877-222-8387 (TTY 800-877-8339), Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. ET
- Vet Center call center 877-927-8387 (TTY 711), 24/7
- VA's facility locator to find the nearest VA medical center, clinic or Vet Center
Step-by-step
Step 1: In a crisis, use the Veterans Crisis Line
Dial 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat at veteranscrisisline.net. It is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day to veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members and their families, whether or not you are enrolled in VA health care. You do not need to be in immediate danger to call — responders help with any emotional or mental health crisis and can connect you to ongoing care.
Step 2: If you are enrolled in VA health care, start with your care team
Ask your primary care provider to help you make an appointment with a VA mental health provider, or contact the mental health clinic at your VA medical center directly; VA medical centers offer same-day mental health care for urgent needs. Care may include individual or group therapy, medication, PTSD and MST specialty programs, substance use treatment, and residential programs. If getting to a facility is hard, ask any VA provider to connect you with the telemental health program to see a VA mental health provider from home or from your nearest VA facility.
Reference: https://www.va.gov/health-care/health-needs-conditions/mental-health/
Step 3: If you are not enrolled, you still have options
Contact the nearest VA medical center or Vet Center to talk about your needs, or call 877-222-8387 to be pointed to the right resource. Apply for VA health care if you are eligible — veterans who served in a combat zone after 9/11 can enroll for care related to that service for 10 years after discharge, and the PACT Act opened enrollment to veterans exposed to toxins or hazards. Veterans with other than honorable discharges can still receive care for PTSD, depression, substance use and MST-related conditions; call the VA hotline at 800-827-1000 to learn your options.
Step 4: Vet Centers — free counseling, no enrollment
Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers for veterans and service members who served in a combat theater or area of hostility, experienced military sexual trauma, provided mortuary or emergent medical care to war casualties, served as drone crews supporting combat operations, responded to a national emergency or disaster, or (as Reserve component members) have a service-related behavioral health condition, among other categories; families can take part when it supports the veteran. Services include individual, group, couples and family counseling, MST counseling, readjustment and bereavement counseling, substance use assessment and referral, and help applying for VA benefits. Records are kept separately from VA medical records. Find one with VA's facility locator, or call 877-927-8387 any time to talk with a fellow combat veteran.
Step 5: Self-help, apps and peer support
The Veteran Training portal offers free, anonymous tools for anger, parenting, problem-solving and other everyday challenges based on proven practices. VA mental health apps help manage PTSD symptoms, stress, mindfulness and depression. The BeThere peer assistance program, through Military OneSource, offers private conversations with peer coaches who are veterans, service members or military spouses to service members, their families and veterans up to 365 days after separation — call 800-342-9647, 24 hours a day. Make the Connection (maketheconnection.net) links veterans and families to local VA and community mental health resources.
Critical tips
- You can be seen by VA mental health and still use a private therapist; if VA cannot offer timely care, ask about community care under VA's access standards.
- A mental health condition related to service can also be claimed for disability compensation — see the PTSD and MST guides — but care does not depend on a claim.
- Family members: Vet Centers and the Veterans Crisis Line serve families too, and VA's Coaching Into Care line (888-823-7458) helps family members encourage a veteran to seek care.
- A county veterans service officer can help with enrollment and claims: warriorsfund.org/find-cvso.