Mental Health Programs Available for Veterans
Recent estimates state that there are about 18 million veterans. According to the VA, it was established that about 1.7 million veterans receive mental health services annually. In addition, one in five veterans experiences post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) each year, as reported by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).,
Unfortunately, the sharp transition from military to civilian life can take its toll on the mental health of millions of veterans. With so many veterans battling pain, guilt, rage, and sadness from a life in the military, it’s unsurprising that many organizations like SRQ Vets have been founded to offer assistance.
Yet are there any specific mental health programs available for veterans? The simple answer is yes. In our article, we will discuss a few of the best mental health programs veterans can sign up for to help them work through their mental health concerns in a safe and understanding environment.
What Are Four Mental Health Programs Available For Veterans
No one should have to deal with their mental health issues alone. This is especially true when organizations like SRQ Vets and programs like the ones discussed below are willing to help.
So if you or a loved one needs help with mental health problems you’re currently facing, you might find one of the programs we discussed to be of assistance.
- Warrior Care Network
The Warrior Care Network program focuses on helping veterans heal the invisible wounds of war through PTSD treatment. This program has partnered with the Wounded Warrior Project and four highly esteemed globally recognized academic medical centers.
Through this collaboration, the program provides long-term wellness for service members and veterans with PTSD, military sexual trauma, TBIs, and other mental health conditions. Those who qualify for this program will receive custom-tailored treatment and individualized care.
In addition, it’s important to note that all accommodations and treatments are provided for veterans at no cost. Moreover, veterans and their families can also acquire financial assistance from this program to help pay for utilities, groceries, and housing.
- Project Odyssey
Project Odyssey is unique because it is a 12-week mental health program that uniquely uses an adventure-based learning method to help veterans cope, manage, and overcome living with depression, PTSD, and anxiety.
Through adventure-based activities, veterans enhance their resilience skills, heal invisible wounds, and learn how to live fulfilling and productive civilian lives.
Unlike other veteran mental health programs, Project Odyssey caters to the unique needs of a veteran. This means they offer couples, family, all-female, all-male, and co-ed programs. As part of the 12-day program, there is a five-day mental health retreat run as a workshop.
During this workshop, veterans will be challenged to step outside their comfort zones and learn how to handle their conditions healthily. They also learn better communication skills and how to make and achieve personal goals while making positive changes in their lives.
- WWP Talk
One of the best free mental health programs for veterans is WWP Talk. This telephonic non-clinical goal-setting program has been created to help veterans and their family members plan individualized paths toward positive personal growth.
Veterans who use this program will be connected with an empathetic listener. This specialist provides tangible guidance that helps veterans develop skills and set goals to increase their resilience and improve their psychological well-being in the long term.
In addition to providing a qualified listener, WWP Talk also offers many resources like couples counseling, anger management, military therapies, financial education, and PTSD counseling.
Moreover, even though this program isn’t a crisis helpline, it does provide a safe and non-judgmental environment and is a great addition to regular therapy.
- Operation Rubix
Operation Rubrix is another program that aims to help veterans struggling with mental health problems. This program is run by SRQ Vets and is aimed at offering veterans and their families a network of options because they realize that the one size fits all approach is lacking.
Essentially, this means that Operation Rubric is designed to provide veterans with different kinds of treatment options so that they can feel safe with the provider they decide on. Operation Rubix uses local resources within Sarasota County to give veterans a wide variety of traditional and alternative therapies and help fill the gaps the VA system cannot cover.
As you can see, many different types of mental health programs are available for veterans. Should you want to be a part of Operation Rubix or would like to donate to our cause, you should contact us at SRQ Vets. We’re a non-profit organization that strives to help veterans in any way we can.
