President Signs Transitional Mental Health Care Order.
Last Month, President Trump showed his support for veterans by signing his “Supporting Our Veterans During Their Transition from Uniformed Service to Civilian Life” executive order. This allows the 60% of recently separated vets who used to be ineligible, to now be eligible for the VA benefit. Beginning in March, any honorably discharged veteran will be eligible for 12 months of mental health care from the VA.
Thank You, Veterans!
If you’re a veteran, first of all, THANK YOU! You deserve way more recognition and thanks than we could ever give you. And as President Trump recently acknowledged, those of you who have served our country also deserve way more help than you often get. But many veterans do not even know that mental health benefits are available to them.
1/2 of Veterans Don’t Know About VA Mental Health Services
About half of all post 9/11 veterans who would benefit from mental health care do not seek it. A recent report showed that roughly 50% don’t seek treatment from the VA or in the private sector.
Perhaps even worse, the congressionally mandated report said a large number of vets simply don’t know these services are available to them. In addition to letting you know about the President’s new executive order, we’d like to outline many of the other mental health services the VA offers.
Combat Vets
If you served in a combat zone, you can receive mental health care (and other healthcare) for five years through the VA, beginning the day of your discharge. This is not the same as service-related disability. This is more like free health insurance.
You receive free medications and care for any condition that might be related to your service, including mental conditions like PTSD or anxiety. There’s no fee for enrollment and no premium. All you have to cover are co-payments.
You can also use the VA’s CHOICE program to receive care from a private-sector specialist. This is also covered by the VA, not you.
OTH Emergency Mental Health Care
The executive order provides a year of care to many veterans, but it does not include those with other-than-honorable discharges. However, the VA has recently launched a separate program which gives these vets emergency mental health care. Though not all OTH vets are covered, those with emergency needs may receive care for up to 90 days.
It’s Best to Enroll
If you qualify to register with the Veterans Health Administration, you should do so. This qualifies you for mental health services like counseling, therapy, and even treatments including medication if needed. The VA can offer support for a wide range of mental health concerns. Its experts can support veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and a wide range of other concerns.
For veterans with life-threatening mental illnesses, the VA offers short-term inpatient care. Services also include outpatient care in psychological rehabilitation and recovery centers; video conferencing with care providers; and residential rehab programs.
Need Immediate Help?
If you need immediate help or support, please call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. Or, you may send a text message to 838255, or visit their website. These are confidential conversations and are answered 24-7.
Hospice and Palliative Care
If you or a loved one are in need of hospice or palliative care, or if you have questions regarding care, please do not hesitate to call us at 918-745-0222. At Seasons Hospice in Tulsa, OK, we are here to support you and answer all your questions regarding end-of-life or palliative care. And once again, veterans, THANK YOU and God bless you!
