National Mental Health Month: Resources for our Veterans

In 1949, the month of May was designated as Mental Health Month by Mental Health America (MHA), the Nation’s leading community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Americans achieve wellness by living mentally healthier lives. In recognition of the month, we’re sharing mental health resources for Veterans.

We also want to tell you about the mental health professionals at VHA who are working with the same objectives, to enable Veterans experiencing mental health problems to live meaningful lives in their communities and to achieve their full potential. We provide general and specialty mental health services for treatment of a broad range of conditions.

There is a wealth of self-help and assistive resources available on VA’s Mental Health site dealing with homelessness, suicide prevention, sexual assault and more. And to help combat the significant issue of PTSD, we encourage those in need to visit the National Center for PTSD. You can also visit the VHA YouTube page devoted to recovery from PTSD to research various aspects of the disease.

If you’re a mental health professional, consider bringing your skills to VHA to help our Veterans. As the Nation’s largest integrated health system, we have more opportunities for psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers and licensed professional counselors than any other health care provider.

And while nothing can replace the care given in person at a VA facility by trained counselors, I want to share with you a few digital resources offered by VA that are good starting points for anyone struggling with his or her well-being:

PTSD Coach: Learn about symptoms that often occur after trauma and how to manage them. Download an app for Apple or Android devices or visit our PTSD page online.

Mindfulness Coach: Practicing mindfulness means grounding yourself in the present moment. It has been shown to be helpful for reducing stress and coping with unpleasant thoughts and emotions.

Moving Forward: Tools to teach problem-solving skills for overcoming obstacles and dealing with stress.

VHA offers a unique proposition you won’t find in the private sector: that feeling of immense personal and professional satisfaction you get from helping those who have served our country in uniform. Whether you want to live in a big city or a small town, you’ll find positions across the country that provide outstanding benefits and competitive salaries. Find out more and Join VA.