Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claims
After dedicating themselves to serving their country, many veterans face mental health issues upon discharge. Fortunately, there are many mental health resources available, both through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and private non-profits. Mental health services are accessible online and in-person. Learn more about the various mental health challenges that veterans face and the resources available to address them.
It is widely accepted that veterans face mental health issues disproportionately higher than the general population.
However, many veterans are hesitant to report or seek help for mental health issues, so the number of veterans struggling is likely even higher than documented.
Here are some key statistics on veterans mental health:
Veterans face a wide range of potential mental health issues upon returning to civilian life, with conditions and symptoms ranging significantly from mild to severe.
Here are some of the more common mental health issues in veterans.
It is not always an easy undertaking for someone to seek mental health treatment, but this process can be even harder for military service members and veterans because of the unique challenges and barriers they face.
There is a lot of stigma surrounding mental health in general, and these feelings can be exacerbated by military culture.
Not only can this stigma prevent veterans from seeking mental health treatment, but it can also prevent them from opening up properly and being honest when they do seek treatment.
Veterans and service members may be concerned that seeking treatment for their mental health could negatively affect their military career or reputation.
“Despite considerable efforts to destigmatize MH [mental health] treatment-seeking, a substantial proportion of service members believe that seeking help will negatively impact their careers.”
—Military Medicine (2022)
Some evidence does suggest a higher discharge rate for those seeking mental health treatment, but a direct link hasn’t been established.
This is because factors like childhood trauma, behavior problems, and alcohol abuse might increase the chances of both treatment-seeking and discharge.
While there are policies in place to protect minority veterans, some veterans may experience discrimination based on gender, race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual preference when seeking mental health care.
Further, the fear of discrimination can be enough to prevent many veterans from seeking the care they need.
There can be an overall lack of awareness amongst veterans (particularly those in more isolated communities) of mental health treatment options that are available to them.
In addition, veterans often don’t know that mental health treatment can be more affordable than they might think, thanks to financial resources.
Sadly, there may also be a lack of available and appropriate treatment choices and services for veterans in some areas.
Veterans face unique challenges regarding their mental health, and some communities may lack the specialized care needed for veterans to succeed in treatment.
Thankfully, telehealth services allow veterans to access online visits to mental health providers to avoid these problems.
Some veterans report financial barriers as a factor that prevents them from seeking mental health treatment.
However, VA health insurance often covers mental health treatment services, and discounted programs and other types of financial assistance are also available.
Not all veterans who are in need of mental health care find or use it, and there are often many barriers that prevent veterans from seeking care.
Factors that may affect whether veterans seek mental health care include:
Veterans have many resources available to help address mental health issues, including several services through the VA.
In addition to covering the costs of various mental health treatments, the VA provides veterans with a range of useful mental health resources.
Vet centers provide counseling to veterans and their loved ones in small, non-medical offices and are usually available free of charge.
Services provided at vet centers include individual, group, and couples counseling and substance abuse and grief counseling.
Find a vet center in your area now.
The VA has an online self-help and educational resource hub available to veterans 24/7 called Veteran Training. It is completely free and confidential.
The VA’s My Recovery Plan, part of the Veterans Training site, is a self-guided tool geared toward helping veterans overcome mental setbacks.
Courses in anger management, parenting, overcoming sleep disorders, and much more are also offered through the Veterans Training hub.
Veterans, their caregivers, and eligible family members can apply for VA mental health benefits at any time. See how below.
Applying for VA benefits can be done in a few different ways, depending on what is most convenient.
To apply for benefits, you will need the following items:
You may also need to provide proof of your household income and a tally of your deductible expenses from the previous year.
Visit the official website of the VA to get the most accurate and up-to-date information on applying for VA benefits.
In many cases, to utilize VA benefits for mental health care, veterans must use VA-approved health care providers.
To find a VA health care provider or facility, you can use the VA facility directory.
Once you have located a VA health care provider, you can contact them to schedule your mental health consultation.
Your initial consultation will likely be with a social worker for the VA, who will work with you to develop a care plan and connect you with further mental health treatment providers like therapists and psychiatrists.
In addition to mental health resources provided by the VA, there are other resources that veterans and their family members may find useful.
Crisis hotlines can be great resources for veterans. For example, the Veterans Crisis Line is a hotline available for free to veterans and their loved ones 24/7, regardless of their status of enrollment in VA health benefits.
Representatives for the Veterans Crisis Line have specialized training in mental health and suicide prevention. They can help guide veterans through their options and how to seek in-person help.
Here are some other veterans crisis helplines:
There are numerous organizations available that provide free and confidential counseling to military families and veterans.
Free mental health clinics for veterans include:
Online resources and support groups for veterans can be a great way to find supportive communities, even if the veteran is unable or uncomfortable with attending in-person support groups.
Online resources and support groups for veterans include:
Treating veterans’ mental health conditions is essential for their well-being. Here are some of the most effective treatment options.
PTSD is typically treated through a combination of medications and therapy and can include individual, group, and family therapy when appropriate.
Types of therapies that are effective for treating PTSD are cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.
Therapy for depression can include individual or group therapy, with some providers utilizing behavioral treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy.
Depending on the severity of their condition, veterans may have the option to use either outpatient or inpatient treatment for their depression.
No one type of therapy is used to treat suicidal ideation, as it often co-occurs with other conditions, but cognitive behavioral therapy can be an effective option.
This type of therapy helps veterans understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are related to better managing stress or trauma.
Traumatic brain injury is treated in various ways, depending on the severity of the damage and the symptoms the individual experiences.
Treatment can include a combination of medications, surgery, and physical or occupational therapy.
Sexual assault leads to significant physical and emotional trauma, and individualized treatment is essential.
One therapy is trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on developing healthy thinking and coping skills for dealing with emotional trauma. Another treatment option is psychodynamic psychotherapy, which explores unconscious processes and past experiences.
Additional mental health services can include holistic treatments like yoga and meditation, adventure therapy, art and music therapy, animal therapy, and equine therapy.
Veterans can also try faith-based treatments that take a spiritual approach to improving mental health.
Veterans and service members have several options regarding financial assistance for mental health care. While other barriers may prevent veterans from seeking treatment, financial obstacles should never be one of them.
TRICARE is a form of military insurance available to active duty service members and military personnel, retired service members, and eligible family members.
Mental health care is covered through this insurance. However, it is important to remember that veterans will qualify for different coverage amounts under TRICARE, depending on their eligibility.
The VA also offers health and disability benefits for qualifying veterans through VA health care.
Veterans can also use disability benefits if they were injured or became ill during service (for example, exposure to toxic water at Camp Lejeune). Mental health conditions, such as PTSD, are included as qualifying injuries for these benefits.
It is usually possible for veterans to access mental health care for themselves and their families at no cost through the assistance of non-profit organizations.
These organizations are typically funded through private donations, corporate sponsorships, government grants, contracts, or private investments that allow them to offer their services for free or at minimal cost to veterans.
Non-profit mental health treatment programs for veterans include:
The VA offers financial hardship assistance for veterans who experience a sudden decrease in income and/or an increase in their health care-related expenses.
Financial hardship assistance through the VA can provide help in three ways:
Bridging the mental health treatment gap for veterans means doing what needs to be done to ensure that barriers are addressed and that veterans feel comfortable and safe seeking care.
This can mean many things, including destigmatizing mental health issues and working for change within the military to get rid of outdated attitudes toward mental illness.
Some ways to bridge the gap include:
If you or a loved one is living with mental health issues after ending military service, be aware that there are resources available 24/7 nationally and locally.
It is never too late for a veteran to get their life and mental health back on track, and no veteran should ever have to feel alone on this journey.
The entire Camp Lejeune Claims Center staff wishes to thank all U.S. veterans for their brave service to their country. Using the resources above, we hope that veterans struggling with any mental health issues can find the treatment they absolutely deserve.
Written by:Camp Lejeune Claims Center TeamThe Camp Lejeune Claims Center exists to help military veterans harmed by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to get the financial compensation they deserve. We're ready to help you — at no out-of-pocket cost to you or your family.