Mental Health

Dr. Mike McBride was providing telehealth when telehealth wasn’t cool. The Milwaukee VA psychiatrist, who is also an Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran, was the first provider here to use mental health telehealth in someone’s home about three years ago. McBride was treating a Veteran with severe post-traumatic stress who couldn’t leave the house because of other medical issues.

During Sexual Assault Awareness Month, VA is connecting with MST survivors and raising awareness of its MST related services and treatment.

More than ever before, all Americans, including Veterans, must pay attention to our emotional well-being and the well-being of those we love as we cope with the challenges posed by the COVID 19 pandemic.

VA recently released its “VA Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Caregivers,” a comprehensive guide aimed at providing caregivers with resources to help them care for not only Veterans, but also themselves.

In the past year, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile have partnered with VA to break down barriers to providing mental health services to Veterans. Now, Sprint has released the first video to highlight VA’s TeleMental Health services. Dr. Teri Carper, a VA provider who took part in the production, reflects on the ways the TeleMental Health program has changed over the years. She also discusses how new technologies such as VA Video Connect are enabling more Veterans to take advantage of telehealth care.

The statistics are staggering: safe firearm storage practices can more than cut in half the chances a friend, co-worker, child, or other family member dies by suicide.

VA peer specialists serve as success stories for their fellow Veterans. Their experience using mental health services, combined with their VA training and certification, have made them valuable additions to VA’s mental health offerings.

If you use smokeless tobacco products and have tried or […]

Two new public service announcements show picking up the phone may lighten someone’s load and the unique role of the National Guard and Reserve.

Veterans—especially those in rural areas—are receiving added attention through a VA program focused on training clergy and other groups.

Military movies can often remind Veterans of their service. They can also bring up painful memories of the past.

Air Force Veteran and Silver Star recipient John Pighini is someone who knows both sides of this issue. He recently worked as a technical adviser on a major motion picture that showcased the bravery of service members, but also brought up a painful past. These movies can sometimes show Veterans dealing with their own struggles: anger, paranoia, edginess, regret and survivor’s guilt.

VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention recently released two resources to help Veterans and their loved ones understand the potentially lifesaving benefits of safely storing firearms and other potentially dangerous household items.