Mental Health Care Resources for Veterans

As veterans adjust to civilian life, they often face challenges that go beyond physical health. During the transition, veterans can experience stress, uncertainty, and feelings of isolation, which may require mental health support, community connections, and opportunities to build a new sense of purpose. There are resources beyond Veterans Affairs (VA) that can help.  

Immediate help

• Veterans Crisis Line: You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect.  Call 988, then press 1 for 24/7 confidential support, or text 838-255.   

Mental health & counseling

• Give an Hour: Free, confidential counseling from volunteer professionals. Available to active-duty military, reservists, guard, veterans, and in certain cases, spouses and caregivers.
• NAMI Homefront: Mental health resources for service members, veterans and their families.
• Headstrong Project: Cost-free, stigma-free, confidential mental health treatment for veterans, service members and families connected to their care.     

Community & connection

• Wounded Warrior Project: Peer support, wellness and counseling programs.
• Team Red, White & Blue: Helping veterans with fitness, sports, and social activities.
• Mission Continues: Service projects that give veterans a new sense of purpose.
• Together We Served: Helping veterans reconnect with former service members.
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Rides: Free rides to VA medical facilities for injured and ill veterans.
  

Career support

• Hiring Our Heroes: Connects the military community with American businesses via job fairs, training and mentorship for veterans.
• AARP Job Board: Allows veterans to search for employers who are actively seeking applicants with a military background.