This tool provides estimates for educational purposes only. We are not accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs and do not file claims, provide legal advice, or represent veterans before the VA (38 U.S.C. § 5904). For official assistance, contact a VSO, CVSO, or VA-accredited attorney.
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Mental Health
Mental Health Resources
Based on VA’s published mental-health services and the Veterans Crisis Line. Vet Center readjustment counseling is authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 1712A. This page is a free community resource. We are not VA-accredited and do not file claims or provide legal advice (per 38 U.S.C. § 5904).
Last reviewed: April 2026 · Next review: October 2026
Maintained by: Veterans Benefits Navigator editorial team. Every citation links to a primary federal or state source. See editorial standards and our privacy posture.
Primary sources: VA.gov mental health, Veterans Crisis Line (988, press 1), 38 U.S.C. § 1712A (Vet Center readjustment counseling)
Information about crisis support[src], evidence-based treatments available at the VA, and Vet Center services for veterans and their families.
Reviewed by VBN Editorial Board · Veteran-benefits editorial reviewers
Note: This page is informational only. It is not a clinical assessment and is not a substitute for a mental health professional. If you are in crisis, the 988 options above are available right now.
Support
Treatment
Treatment Options Guide
Learn about evidence-based treatments available at the VA for PTSD, MST, substance use, and depression, including what to ask your provider.
Vet Center Services
Find out who qualifies for Vet Center services, what is available, and how Vet Centers differ from VA medical centers.
What VA mental health services are
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) delivers outpatient and inpatient mental health services through VA medical centers, Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), and, through a separate but related track, Vet Centers. Covered services can include post-traumatic stress disorder care, treatment for depression and anxiety, substance use treatment, care related to military sexual trauma (MST), suicide prevention, family therapy, and psychiatric medication management. The scope of medical benefits for enrolled veterans is defined at 38 CFR § 17.38[src], and VA publishes a plain-language overview at VA.gov[src].
Vet Centers are a distinct program. They provide confidential readjustment counseling and are authorized separately from VHA hospital-based care, which means a veteran may receive counseling at a Vet Center without being enrolled in VA healthcare. That distinction matters because the eligibility rules, paperwork, and intake paths are different for each.
Who may be eligible
Any veteran enrolled in VA healthcare may access mental health care through VHA. Beyond the general enrollment path, several special access routes can open care to veterans who might otherwise assume they do not qualify.
Combat-era and post-9/11 access
Combat veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and certain other post-9/11 deployments may be able to access readjustment-related mental health care without completing full VA healthcare enrollment first. The eligibility overview is kept current at VA.gov/health-care/eligibility[src].
Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
Any veteran who experienced MST during military service may be eligible for MST-related care regardless of discharge status, length of service, or current enrollment status. The statutory basis is at 38 U.S.C. § 1720D[src], and VA's public-facing description is at VA.gov[src]. A veteran is not required to have filed a report during service and is not required to have a service-connected rating to receive MST-related care.
Character of discharge
An Other-Than-Honorable (OTH) discharge does not automatically bar mental health care. Veterans with OTH characterizations may request a Character-of-Discharge review under 38 CFR § 3.12[src], and many may still access Vet Center services, which have broader eligibility than VHA hospital-based care.
Where to get care
Veterans and families have several entry points depending on the type of support needed and whether VA enrollment is in place.
VA medical centers and CBOCs. For enrolled veterans, the primary entry point is the local VA medical center or Community-Based Outpatient Clinic. Every VA medical center has a mental health team, and many CBOCs provide mental health care on-site or through telehealth. Facility search is at VA.gov/find-locations[src].
Vet Centers. More than 300 community-based Vet Centers provide confidential readjustment counseling, family counseling, bereavement counseling for families of service members who died on active duty, and MST-related counseling. Vet Centers operate under 38 U.S.C. § 1712A[src] and can be found at VA.gov/find-locations[src]. Eligibility generally includes combat veterans, survivors of sexual trauma during military service, and certain family members.
MISSION Act Community Care. If VA wait times or drive times exceed published access standards, or if VA cannot provide a specific mental health service, a veteran may be eligible for care from a community provider at VA expense. The program was established by Pub. L. 115-182 and the current rules and access standards are published at VA.gov/communitycare[src].
988 Veterans Crisis Line. The Veterans Crisis Line is free, confidential, and available 24/7. No VA enrollment is required. Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat at veteranscrisisline.net[src].
VA mental health services locator. VA maintains a searchable directory of mental health services by facility type at VA.gov/find-locations[src].
What veterans frequently miss
A few parts of the mental health benefit are routinely overlooked either because eligibility is broader than veterans expect or because the program sits outside the usual VA healthcare workflow.
Vet Centers do not require VA healthcare enrollment. Vet Centers operate on a separate authorization with broader eligibility than VHA hospital-based care, especially for combat readjustment and MST. A veteran who was told they do not qualify for VA healthcare may still qualify for Vet Center counseling.
MST care has no eligibility barriers. Under 38 U.S.C. § 1720D[src], MST-related care is available without a rating requirement, without an enrollment requirement, and without a time limit.
PTSD service-connection evidence rules. PTSD claims have specific evidentiary provisions at 38 CFR § 3.304(f)[src] that differ from other mental health conditions. Combat-era veterans and MST survivors may benefit from relaxed evidence standards for the in-service stressor.
Secondary mental health conditions. Depression that arises alongside chronic pain or a traumatic brain injury, sleep disturbance that follows PTSD, and substance use that follows MST may be eligible for secondary service connection under 38 CFR § 3.310[src]. Secondary claims are often missed because veterans file only for the primary condition.
Family counseling.Vet Centers provide family counseling related to the veteran's service-connected mental health concerns, not only individual counseling for the veteran.
Copay exemptions. Mental health care for a service-connected condition is copay-free regardless of priority group. Most Priority Group 1–3 enrollees have no mental health copays for non-service-connected care either. Copay rules are codified at 38 CFR § 17.108[src].
Caregiver support. Families caring for a veteran with a severe service-connected mental health condition may be eligible for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers under 38 U.S.C. § 1720G[src], which may include stipends, training, respite care, and health coverage for a designated primary caregiver.
Where to get help
For an immediate crisis, the Veterans Crisis Line is the right first call: 988 then press 1, text 838255, or chat at veteranscrisisline.net[src]. For care navigation, the mental health coordinator at a local VA medical center can explain intake, enrollment options, and how Vet Centers connect with VHA. For claims questions, including PTSD, MST, and secondary mental health conditions, a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) or County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) can represent the veteran at no cost. Family caregivers looking for support can reach the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.
This site is informational. It is not a clinical provider and is not a substitute for a mental health professional. The tools above help veterans and families understand what may be available and where to go next.