Mental Health Programs

26 Feb Mental Health Programs

Make The Connection

Make The Connection is a VA-administered online support group for veterans and their families who are navigating service-related mental health challenges. It allows veterans and their families to connect with other veterans and military families anonymously and to read, view, or share their stories.

To explore testimonials and other resources, visit www.maketheconnection.net

Or visit https://va.org/animal-rescue-and-veteran-support-services-corp/

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment

Historically known as “shell shock” or “battle fatigue,” PTSD can occur after a veteran has been through a traumatic event.  In the military context, PTSD is most often caused by combat exposure, although it may also be caused by non-combat situations like serious injuries, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or sexual or physical assault/abuse.

The main symptoms of PTSD are:

• Hyperarousal: irritability, trouble concentrating, sleep problems, or a constant sense of impending danger

• Persistent negative thoughts: paranoia, selective amnesia regarding traumatic event, apathy towards friends and family, or thoughts of suicide

• Recurring memories of traumatic event: nightmares, flashbacks, or triggering sights, sounds, smells, or sensations

• Avoidance: refusal to remember or talk about traumatic event, avoidance of similar situations to a degree that interferes with normal functioning, or anti-social behavior to avoid being around unknown persons or large groups of people

All VA Medical Centers have PTSD treatment specialists on hand, and Community Based Outpatient Clinics in many VA locations make it easier than ever to get help.

Mental Health Programs

Acute/Intensive Inpatient PTSD Programs

• TSD Day Hospitals (DH)
• PTSD Domiciliary (PTSD Dom)
• PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Program (PRRP)

Other Inpatient PTSD Programs

• Evaluation and Brief Treatment of PTSD Unit (EBTPU)
• Specialized Inpatient PTSD Unit (SIPU)
• Women’s Trauma Recovery Program (WTRP)

Outpatient PTSD Programs

• Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs)
• PTSD Clinical Team (PCT)
• Substance Use PTSD Team (SUPT)
• Women’s Stress Disorder Treatment Team (WSDTT)

To locate a PTSD Treatment Center, visit www.va.gov/directory/guide/ptsd_flsh.asp

Substance Abuse Treatment

Abuse of alcohol, prescription drugs, and illegal drugs can seriously interfere with a veteran’s mental health, can have devastating physical, emotional, and financial impacts, and can cause serious problems in relationships with friends and family.  Substance Use Disorder, or “SUD,” often occurs in conjunction with other service-related mental and physical health problems.  The VA provides treatment for SUD through a combination of the following services:

• initial alcohol and tobacco use screening
• motivation-based outpatient counseling
• intensive outpatient therapy
• drug substitution therapy
• live-in substance abuse treatment
• medical detoxification and stabilization
• relapse prevention treatment and continued care
• self-help group therapy
• family and marriage counseling

To locate a SUD Program service provider, visit www.va.gov/directory/guide/SUD_flsh.asp

Other Mental Health Programs

www.mentalhealth.va.gov

• Anxiety
• Bipolar Disorder
• Depression
• Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
• Schizophrenia
• Suicide Prevention