Mental Health Resources for Military Families and Military Veterans

Resources for Military Families and Military Veterans

Mental Health is arguably the most pressing issue facing military families today. Whether active-duty, reservist, veteran, service members or dependents, including gold star families.

Getting military veterans the help they need to recover from mental trauma soon after discharge may help them avoid years of personal, psychological and financial struggles, according to a report from the Rand Corporation. The Rand Corporation found that while providing veterans with immediate, high-quality treatment for PTSD depression would be more expensive initially, the cost savings to society would ultimately pay off:

As of 2008, 22 percent of veterans returning from Iraq or Afghanistan suffered from depression or PTSD.
Out of this number, 52 percent received treatment, resulting in a cost to society of $923 million in terms of medical care and lives lost to suicide.
With high-quality care for all veterans returning home, 100 percent of those who suffer from PTSD or depression would be treated immediately.
With treatment for 100 percent of affected veterans, the cost to society would be $785 million.

Finding resources is not always easy or straight forward. This is a modest attempt at providing a list of mental health care resources for service members, veterans, and family members.

Mental Health

American Association of Suicidology
Battling Bare: The mission of Battling Bare, Inc. is to provide a network of support for the spouses, children and family members who silently struggle to carry the burden of PTSD with their beloved Service Members. By creating a safe place to band together and share our stories, we will raise awareness about PTSD and create positive programs of true healing for families affected.
Courage Beyond at Centerstone: Courage Beyond at Centerstone provides confidential, no-cost or low-cost programs and services to warriors and their families facing PTSD and other invisible wounds of military service. They offer a supportive online community, anonymous forums, retreats, eGroups, a 24-hour crisis line, and face-to-face counseling services.
Give An hour http://www.giveanhour.org: Give an Hour™ is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), founded in September 2005 by Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a psychologist in the Washington, D.C., area. The organization’s mission is to harness the expertise and generosity of volunteer mental health professionals capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions that arise within our society. Currently, GAH is dedicated to meeting the mental health needs of the troops and families affected by the post-9/11 conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. We provide counseling to individuals, couples and families, and children and adolescents.
Headspace – Headspace is meditation made simple. Learn online, when you want, wherever you are, in just 10 minutes a day. You can receive a large discount on a headspace membership through Blue Start families.
LCpl Lutz Live to Tell Foundation : The LCpl Lutz Live To Tell Foundation’s, 501(c)3, mission is to reduce veteran suicide resulting from Post-Traumatic Stress by supporting our military through Buddy Up Combat Outposts (COPs), strengthening community support, & raising awareness about Post-Traumatic Growth.
Lone Survivor Foundation: The Lone Survivor Foundation restores, empowers and renews hope for our wounded service members and their families through health, wellness and therapeutic support.
Military Pathways
Military Spouse Behavioral Health Clinicians: Mental health is one of the biggest issues facing our military today. No one is better suited to help our nation’s service members, veterans, and their families like military spouses.Our aim is to connect military spouse behavioral health clinicians with the information, resources, and tools necessary to help them on their journey as a clinician; all while working towards developing solutions to our military’s mental health crisis.
Military Social Work Training
National Alliance on Mental Illness
REACHOUT Hotline: Linking those in need of mental health or substance abuse services with providers 24 hours a day. Call 800-522-9054.
Resources for Supporting Families Dealing with Parental Mental Illness
Suicide Prevention: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention service available to anyone in suicidal crisis. 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You will be routed to the closest possible crisis center in your area. With over 120 crisis centers across the country, our mission is to provide immediate assistance to anyone seeking mental health services.
The Unique Circumstances and Mental Health Impact of the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq
US Dept of Veteran Affairs, National Center for PTSD
US Dept of Veteran Affairs, OEF/OIF Transition Assistance Program
US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Resources for Returning Veterans and Their Families
Veterans and Military Health: (NIH) Lists many related articles specific to conditions, family concerns, etc.
Department of Veterans Affairs: National Center for PTSD : http://www.ptsd.va.gov/
Department of Veterans Affairs: Women’s Trauma Recovery Program : The WTRP, designed to treat women veterans with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is the first residential program of its kind and is open to women across the country. http://www.womenvetsptsd.va.gov
Veteran Crisis Line
The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Support for deaf and hard of hearing individuals is available