The Veterans Administration and Department of Defense have developed numerous government programs, services, and benefits for veterans and their family members. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers publications to educate and support healthcare providers who are treating veterans and their families. The VA provides many free healthcare services, including counseling and therapy, for veterans and their families. These are available at VA facilities, online or over the phone through telehealth, or by referring patients to civilian providers.
Primary care and behavioral health providers in the civilian sector can make a positive difference in the lives of veterans and their families by instituting the following three clinical best practices:
1. Ask and assess: Screen for military service and veteran status, then screen for comorbid physical and mental health problems. These include:
- PTSD
- Military Sexual Trauma, or MST
- Suicide risk
- Depression
- Grief
- Substance abuse
2. Intervene: Healthcare professionals can provide brief interventions such as giving feedback on screening results, describing risks associated with behavioral health disorders, and advising the veteran and family about ways to address substance use or mental health issues such as depression and PTSD.
SAMHSA provides the following useful publications:
- TIP 34: Brief Interventions and Brief Therapies for Substance Abuse
- TIP 50: Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment
3. Refer: If health screenings indicate the need for specialized care for behavioral or mental health problems, refer the veteran for a thorough assessment, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment. Evidence-based treatments are available for substance use and mental disorders, including psychotherapies, behavioral and pharmacologic therapies, and combination therapies. Evidence-based treatment for PTSD includes exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
The Uniformed Services of the Health Sciences, a university within the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, has partnered with the Center for Deployment Psychology, to provide training for healthcare professionals who offer services to military personnel and veterans. “Military Culture: Core Competencies for Healthcare Professionals,” is a four-module course that invites healthcare providers to reflect on potential biases that might affect their work with members of the military culture. The modules also cover military organization and roles, stressors and resources, and treatment.