Have you ever been told to smile more? Been cat-called? Have you been stared at or had sexual gestures made at you?
Has anyone ever questioned your Veteran status, maybe saying you don’t “Look like a Veteran” or maybe you are “Too pretty to be a Veteran?”
Harassment happens more often than you may think, but it is not tolerated at VA.
About 1 in 5 women Veterans have reported being harassed while at a VA facility, so VA is working to address and end inappropriate behavior. If you ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable, it’s important to know what to do.
Everyone who visits a VA facility, including employees, Veterans, family members and caregivers, should take care to make sure their actions don’t cause someone else to feel uncomfortable or unwelcome.
We all have a responsibility in keeping VA a safe place to get care. If you see or experience something that makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, please speak up and report it when you feel safe to do so. There’s no wrong way to report harassment. VA will take action.
What is harassment?
Harassment can take many forms, from unwelcome comments or inappropriate questions to bullying or intimidating language or behavior. If it is unwelcomed and makes you uncomfortable, it is harassment.
VA defines harassment as “Any unwanted verbal, visual or physical behavior.”
How to report harassment
If you ever experience harassment, we encourage you to report it to the facility’s VA police, Patient Advocate, Women Veteran Program Manager or any VA staff member. For additional help, you can call or text the Women Veterans Call Center at 1-855-829-6636, or chat with them online. You can also call the VA Harassment Prevention Program at 1-888-566-3982.
What will VA do when you report it?
VA has zero tolerance for all forms of harassment. We will take your report seriously, investigate it thoroughly and take appropriate action. VA specialists are here to help you and will guide you through the process.
VA is here for you
All Veterans deserve to visit VA facilities or come in for an appointment without having to worry about being harassed. We’re listening to your concerns and are working to address them, so that you can receive your health care at a place that feels safe and where you belong. We’re committed to making sure that our Veterans, regardless of gender, never feel uncomfortable, unsafe or disrespected at VA.
We know it can be difficult to talk about and report, but you don’t have to do it alone. Our Bystander Intervention Training can help you recognize inappropriate behavior, intervene effectively when you see or hear it happen, report incidents at a VA facility, and locate the appropriate VA resources. If you need additional support, learn more about VA’s mental health resources or chat with the Women Veterans Call Center for help.
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The Tyler Texas V A Is a place where I’ve been harassed from the audiologist to my primary care they are not set up to help Black people only turn us away no matter what my problems are.its discouraging to see my White brothers treated so well and encouraging at the same time
I’m a male who has been sexually traumatized four times at my local VA health center. Every time I have reported it the patient advocate and White House hotline has refused to do anything. In fact both of them has suggested that in fact it was my fault. Do men deserve the same rights as women?
I find this comment within your article highly naïve at best, and choose to receive it with the VA just keeping their collective heads buried in the sand like they always do: “VA has zero tolerance for all forms of harassment. We will take your report seriously, investigate it thoroughly and take appropriate action” This article just doesn’t apply to women, but men too. I have been continually harassed by the mental health officials at my local VA for this simple reason that I hold the same degree as they do and don’t always come to the same conclusions as they do, therefore; I’m combative, argumentative, divisive, threatening, and have been reported to the DRBC no less than 8 times! I’ve had to call my Congressional office no less than 4 times to get them involved with my case, Washington 4 times, and have proved the harassment, the “doctoring” of my records over and over again by my medical professionals at the VA, and that the head of the mental health department allowed 3 boys to be sexually abused under his watch as an associate pastor at the church he presided over for 10 years! No one cares about the treatment of the patients, the laughable counselors they have who WILL hurt someone with their less than professional ways of executing their craft thinking they are untouchable gods.
This article is so far from the truth!!! You report nothing happens! U call harassment team they say well you’re not crying. U file an eeo case u don’t hear from them for months this is all false. I have worked there for 20 years and I have expierenced horrendous treatment harassment sexual harassment to the extreme bullying it goes on and on. I won’t let my family members work there. Because I am scared for their safety. The va motto is tolerate it or get out. It’s sickening what I have endured. It has changed me. And that is sad. PTSD from going to work is real.
My comment is for you. The local transportation company that VA sends has caused me to miss 4 appointments now. I keep seeing requests for drivers. What is not seen is how to actually contact them to schedule rides for appointments. Nobody has ever suggested this service. I’m a disabled veteran who cannot drive long distances. These services would be of great service to me if I could be advised how to arrange it.
Each VA has a transportation department. Call your local VA and ask the operator to either transfer you or give you the number
The Vietnam Era Vets (old White men) are being victimized all over again by this new crop of young college educated employees. That show nothing but disdain and hate for them. Enough with this 1940’s and 50’s stereotype that all the male Vets are running around calling women honey and babe you always have such thought less jerks in all circles of society. . It’s the ones in powerful administrative positions that are most likely to engage in such behavior (just like in politics) and are embolden to do so by their prominent positions.. Male Vet patients are the convenient scapegoats.
What is the Veterans administration’s current medical model?
When I first entered the VA system around 2005, I did receive somewhat harsh treatment from some of the VA employees then. For at ;east the last ten years I have received and seen nothing but exemplory behavior from all VA employees and professionals. have seen a number of Veterans who did not deserve this behavior, so a big pat on the back to the VA. Well done. I am a 78 year old Vietnam Veteran.
With all these New Doctor that are computer wiz, It put the veteran is not into computer wise behind . what happen to the doctor that talk with you and broke things down if you did not understand it like The New Doc are getting pay and leaving the understanding for someone else . Talking so that someone understand is out the door for New Doc it work in the past that must stay a main stay in doctoring
We just lost today one of the best Providers we had at our facility. She was harassed by management and staff. She has been investigated because she actually did her job! We are gonna be losing another Provider because the VA let clerks( MSA) call the shots on how DR. do their jobs and how many veterans they should see. I am so sad. Administration is just worried about themselves and getting promoted.
It seems to appear that the VA system thinks only women are harassed. The comments and cat calls. I heard so many comments about my ethnicity. Being American Indian opens a door to so many comments.Especially at the Oklahoma City VA. About if I quit drinking I would b e healthier. I never drank alcohol. I had problems definitely like so many veterans. Just like being in the military as to therapy classes it was always about calling me chief or let’s play cowboys and Indians and so on. Not just Veterans but doctors. It has happened in Denver. What has spared me in Colorado Springs is the community care network.
GrayEagle; I’m sorry for your treatment by those who don’t the culture and what they truly owe to the Native American. Being part Native, I grew up with a very rich culture embraced by a tribe that wasn’t even my own, but loved by their Chief as a precious grandson because he had adopted my mother as his daughter. How I wish I could relive those days with a people I so loved and the history I witnessed that has stayed with me all this time. Thank you Sir for who you are, what you did for this country, and for your families sacrifice as well. I apologize for the ignorance of others, but somehow, I don’t think they’ll ever understand how we all suffered as a nation just because we were different and perceived as a threat, or the atrocities that were done to us in the name of progress.
I have never received anything but the best treatment at the Salisbury NC VA center and the Hickory OP center.
Its a Model for All Federal Offices
It was transport that caused the problem so now I no longer can ride. I have no car and live 30+ miles away but can find no way down to the VA now.
Have even had 5 stitches put in my back without lidocaine ,by a resident. You can’t complain for fear of retribution.
What I don’t understand is why some support clerks the facilities listed 2 here in North Carolina Charlotte VA Medical Center.Salisbury WG Bill Hefner Medical Center VA Medical Center feel that it is appropriate to address women as hun or honey,sweetie. Yet they will say Sir to a male veteran checking in.
When it is done to me I clearly inform them that they have no business being familiar with me we are not friends or family. Maybe the VA needs to teach a basic common courtesy class on how to address veterans whether they are male or female by simply saying Miss or mister or sir or ma’am.
Here’s part of the problem with the VA. It doesn’t address veterans as it supposed to according to policy, nor is there any way to address people of title more appropriately! If they’re a Blue Button Premium Member, their supposed to be addressed how they have it listed where it says; to be addressed as. In other cases, the veteran is to be addressed by rank, (which is rarely if ever done), and for some odd reason, the VA has no recognition of persons of title; I.E., doctor, PhD, etc. There have been several instances where I’ve sent messages in with my official title and signature attached to the message, only to be addressed as “Mr.” which I think they do just to irritate me. If I have to educate them, I do, then it’s me whose being rude, vindictive, and talking down to others.
I was threatened by a member of my medical team from the Mental Health department at the Manngrandstaff VA facility in Spokane Washington. I reported this person and requested a new team which was denied so I requested to use community care this was also denied even though i lived more than 60 miles from the Manngrandstaff Facility. Instead I was told I would have to continue my appointments with the same team and when I started my next appointment with that team the Provider said I would feel a lot better if I apologized to the member that threatened me and it would make things easier for me since he would be taking part in that appointment and all future appointments. Is that standard procedure? How am I supposed to feel comfortable or safe talking about my mental health with someone that threatened me when I was at my lowest point in life. I had just attempted to kill myself. I reached out for help and this individual that is supposed to be there to help veterans get through struggles with mental health got upset and threatened me. Because he didn’t like that i didnt appreciate him calling me a liar and saying that i didn’t have any previous mental health concerns or issues.
I was only trying to get my antidepressants refilled i had just been released from the psychiatric ward and my script from them had run out and i needed a bridge. Now if he had bothered to do his job he would have known all that. But no he decided it was easier to say i was making this all up. So yes i called him a dirty word because for crying out LOUD I’d been going through a mental breakdown and this was what the VA had to offer. Anyway Mr. Whitehead immediately loses his cool and says why don’t you come on out here right now, (I’ve got something for ya). He then proceeds to hang up the phone real fast when he hears my wife in the background speak up and say hey you can’t do that. I would later find out that the individual that threatened me had made up a different story about what had happened basically claiming that I threatened him and his board of peers made a decision to pass judgment on me without even investigating far enough to even hear my side of it. So where is a suicidal vet supposed to go at that point. You have closed your doors to them and you might have been their last hope for help. You claim to care about all Veterans and Soldiers who are suicidal and claim to go out of your way to prevent suicides. Yet I was threatened and then denied access to any other paths of help and then caught by surprise and made to sit awkwardly quiet in front of the person who threatened me as my medical team tried to bully me into admitting and taking blame for what had happened. My heart is broken and I cannot count the number of times I’ve cried thinking about other soldiers that have committed suicide and their families dealing with it and this may have been the type of care they received, disgraceful. I have reported these people at every level possible and yet here I sit as the one being punished and made to feel like I am the bad guy. I was forbidden to be at any VA facility without police escort. I promise you this did not make me feel safe nor secure.
Hi Mr. Smith;
I ran into the same situation at my VA as well so my apologies to you as well. I haven’t gotten to the police escort yet, but it has been threatened. I think they know if they did this, it would be a very bad move on their part. Even as I write this reply to you Sir, it just galls the crap out of me that Big Brother goes through these messages and checks them before posting them. Land of the Free and Home of the Brave, my -ss. Going through all these stories makes me so sad we’re treated like fodder. Mr. Smith; continue Sir to look the dragon in the eye and spit in his eye if you have to Sir, but don’t let him win, please, not because these people at the VA don’t give a sh-t about you, your brothers and sisters in arms love you and will fight this demon with you if you let us Sir. We went through what those pansy -ssess have only read about in books and lived! I’m not going to give you the soft sell brother; life is hard. Unfortunately, you’re going to deal with -ssholes like this Mr. Whitehead who decided to go into CYA mode (Cover Your Ass), because it was easier for him to lie, and made a PTSD patient look bad, than to show he had a set a set of balls, be a man, step up to the plate, and admit he was wrong and apologize. The VA my friend will NEVER admit they made a mistake so please, don’t ever hold your breath waiting for one. Get that idea out of your head right now. Some of the stuff they say is going to drive you bat-sh-t crazy at times, because to the normal human being, (yes, I’m talking about you), what they’re saying as it relates to you, makes absolutely no sense at all!! It’s like having a job, any job, and your boss is so freakin’ stupid you keep asking yourself; I’m 10x smarter than this person, have more common sense, how did they ever get this job? Anyway my brother, spit in the dragon’s eye every day, don’t ever give up on yourself! You have to believe in YOU first!! Everybody else can go to hell; YOU believe in you first and keep believe in you!! DO NOT EVER, become a part of the 22 club my brother please, despite what these people are/aren’t doing. They’re not freakin’ worth it! I love you very much and for what it’s worth to you, God knew you before you were born and has loved you from the beginning of all creation. He’s taken away all my pain; He can do the same for anyone who suffers. Acts 16:31
Yes, I was degraded at the VA physical therapy off campus Tampa VA reported it to patient advocate got a call from the girl supervisor. He said he talk to her. He’s probably still in there harassing veterans as soon as she found out that I was a Vietnam Veteran things went downhill real quick he start yelling and screaming at me. Maybe she was off her medication.
Having female providers using female chaperones for intimate male exams is harrassment..
sometimes non vets are not receptive nor understanding of vets please hire more vets rehire joyce d shearin at nyc nurse asst parttime trainee with a good vet boss that understands better my situation and is more compassionate and more helpful. thanks. I could also use a house voucher with employment parttime back, medal of honor started for joyce shearin started the internet, served army nat guard navy reserves us air force would like public health service a job with benefits to retire thanks.please hire more vets at va instead thanks.
WHAT ? you have to be a women to complain ? I got blackballed sept 16 2013 and its been (HELL) mental abuse ever since !!!
I am a vietnam vet with 100% ptsd !! LIES told to me and about me !!!! ITS A SHAME !!!
I agree with the veterans comments on the need to hire more veterans at the VA. Dra. Colon a dentist at the BA in San Juan Puerto Rico is very disrespectful person. She called the VA police and the police were going to charge me with disorderly conduct because I disagree with what she was saying. Employees at the VA have been given the green light to call the police just because you disagree with them. It happened to me and I have seen it happen to other Veterans. Veterans don’t want to complain for fear of not being allowed into VA facilities. I feel that more training needs to be given to the employees and taught how to diescalate the situation instead of adding fuel to the fire. This especially needed with clerks, nurses and doctors. Maybe the maintenance people who keep the VA clean and spotless should be dealing with the Veterans. They seem to have more patience and more empathy then the other employees just mentioned. Thank you for reading this message.
Has anyone questioned your veteran status? Funny you should ask that because you do exactly that, after I was in national security getting paid nearly nothing but now everyone who served in Iraq and Afghanistan is a liar and stupid because you only approve 40 percent of claims and are directly responsible for 30,000 veterans deaths, but oh let’s focus on something else because you know you enjoy reading about 22 veterans who will pay the ultimate price for freedom , their American dream is a nightmare thanks to your CARE , but you will blame them for their actions not taking responsibility because you have no humanity and would never sacrifice
Only care about VA and their paychecks don’t try to save even one of the 22 veterans, yet they say they are doing so great , lies and gaslighting narcissists and waste of taxpayer dollars
Since 1976 I’ve never had a problem being harassed by male Vets or staff at the VA and I’ve NEVER seen/heard any other woman being harassed
I feel SAFE at the VA
Paula,
You’re in the minority then. Continued good luck to you…..