Mental Health Support for Veterans

Veterans may face a number of challenges transitioning to life as a civilian following military service, including significant struggles with mental health. 

Whether stemming from work-related issues, accompanied by stigma concerns, presenting as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and/or other factors, veterans’ mental health is a serious topic.

The Mental Health Landscape

Health conditions common to the veterans’ population are PTSD, depression, anxiety, traumatic brain injury, and substance use disorders.

For military veterans, mental health conditions may correspond directly to occupational experiences as opposed to accidental events. Another element of veterans’ mental health is that individuals who have been in military roles may have been exposed to long periods of mental stress, trauma, and physical strain. Exposure to loss of life and extended separation from family members may also impact military veterans.

 

There may also be feelings of guilt, including feeling guilty for living through military experiences that other personnel did not survive. Guilty and other difficult feelings may manifest years after deployment. 

Another element for consideration regarding veterans’ mental health is that those trained to perform in military settings may feel weak or that they are a disappointment by asking for mental health support. 

Also, while healthcare is offered through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), navigating the department’s healthcare system may be difficult.  

Transitioning to Civilian Life

Loss of structure, identity, and community are all challenges that may affect veterans transitioning to civilian life. Without the routines of military involvement, established roles within a platoon, and connectedness of unit camaraderie, it may be hard for veterans to feel settled or positioned to move forward.

There is also transitioning in regard to family dynamics. Reconnecting with spouses and reestablishing parental responsibilities may be challenging. Connecting with community generally may also be hard, as veterans may feel disconnected from individuals who do not have experience with or a personal understanding of military service. 

Transitioning to civilian life may also be difficult for veterans as they seek employment and as they handle financial stress.

Treatment Options and Resources

Recognizing that veterans may have significant mental health challenges transitioning from military service, there are multiple support options to ease the transition and help individuals benefit from improved mental health.

Individual and group therapy

Evidence-based individual and group therapies from professional caregivers can provide opportunities for healing. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a talk therapy with attention to an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Dialectical behavioral therapy is about managing emotions and decreasing conflict. Acceptance and commitment therapy involves accepting emotions and benefiting from mindfulness. 

Medication management services

Professional medication management services can help with the safe administration of medications to support mental health, including the identification of appropriate dosages.

Outdoor therapy

Outdoor therapy is a way for veterans to remove from day-to-day settings and participate in activities such as backpacking and rafting. Biking, camping, gardening, and surf therapy are all options within this category of care. 

Practicing mindfulness

Mindfulness involves being in the present. It is a practice used as part of structured treatment therapies and can be used for self-care. Mindfulness is an approach for supporting relaxation, better sleep, and stress reduction.

Service animal support

Service animals can provide companionship, and caring for a service animal may lead to routine and responsibility that can be beneficial. A veteran may benefit from the capabilities of a psychiatric service dog with specific training to help interrupt nightmares and panic attacks and provide other helpful support.

Support groups and programs

Veterans may choose to participate in support groups and veteran-led programs. Resources include:

• Objective Zero Foundation: The focus of this organization is veteran suicide prevention. Attention is given to community and connection to resources.
• Team RWB: With its mission, “Enhancing Veterans’ Lives,” Team RWB supports fitness programs and supplies an app for veterans to connect. 
• Vets4Warriors: This organization offers a free support line available to veterans, their family members, and their caregivers.
• Wounded Warriors Project: Providing services for post-9/11 veterans, the Wounded Warriors Project offers mental health support among its offerings. 

Ways to Support Veterans

There are multiple ways to support veterans, whether through individual contributions, showing support as families, or offering service through community outreach. Options include volunteering and donating to local veteran organizations, veteran advocacy, checking in on veterans, acting when recognizing that a veteran is displaying signs of struggle, and working to build supportive environments for veterans.

Support from Jackson House

Jackson House is a mental health treatment provider offering a program for military veterans. We provide veterans 24/7 care with a personalized approach. Treatment modalities include a variety of therapeutic approaches: cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and trauma-informed therapy. We also have a motivational interviewing group.

Services from Jackson House also include addiction treatment, including SMART Recovery programming and a 12-step program. 

We value family involvement, and we support the development of a personalized recovery action plan for program participants. Jackson House also offers aftercare services to support individuals following their treatment.

Mental health treatment from Jackson House is provided from our multiple locations in California and from our center in Oregon City, Ore. In California, treatment is offered in La Mesa, El Centro, San Diego, Temecula, Tulare, and Ventura.

Contact Us about Our Mental Health Program for Veterans

Providing veterans with quality and personalized mental health support is important to Jackson House. We invite veterans, their loved ones, and professional healthcare providers to contact us about our mental health services made available through our veterans program.