Warrior Resources
Mental Health & Crisis Support

You're Not Alone. Help Is Real.

Veterans face mental health challenges at higher rates than the general population — and the VA and nonprofit community have built real programs to help. Here's what exists, how to access it, and who to call right now.

If You're in Crisis Right Now

These lines are staffed 24/7 by people trained specifically for veterans. You don't have to be suicidal to call — crisis support covers any mental health emergency.

Veterans Crisis Line

988

Press 1

The national Veterans Crisis Line. Call 988 and press 1 to reach a VA-trained responder immediately.

Text 838255 · Chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net

Call 988 Now

Crisis Text Line

Text HOME to 741741

Free, 24/7 text-based crisis support. Not veteran-specific but available anywhere.

Veterans Warmline (SAMHSA)

1-800-273-8255

Non-emergency peer support for veterans who need to talk but aren't in immediate crisis.

VA Programs

VA Mental Health Services

VA mental health care is available to enrolled veterans — and many programs are available even before a disability rating is established. Same-day mental health services are now required at all VA facilities.

VA Mental Health Care

Free for Enrolled Veterans
Learn More1-800-827-1000

Comprehensive mental health services including individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, and inpatient care. Available at all VA medical centers and many community-based outpatient clinics.

Who Qualifies

Any veteran enrolled in VA healthcare. Veterans can also receive an initial mental health evaluation without being fully enrolled.

How to Access

  1. 1Call your nearest VA facility and ask for the mental health clinic
  2. 2Or walk in — VA facilities are required to offer same-day mental health services
  3. 3You can also request a referral from your VA primary care provider

You can access VA mental health services even if you haven't established a disability rating. Don't wait.

PTSD Treatment Programs

Specialized Care
Learn More1-800-827-1000

VA offers evidence-based PTSD treatments including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and EMDR. Residential PTSD programs are available for severe cases.

Who Qualifies

Veterans with PTSD diagnosis or symptoms. No service-connection required to begin treatment.

How to Access

  1. 1Request a PTSD evaluation at your VA facility
  2. 2Ask specifically about CPT or PE — these are the gold-standard treatments
  3. 3For residential care, ask for a referral to a PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (PRRTP)

The VA's National Center for PTSD (ptsd.va.gov) has free self-help tools and a therapist locator.

Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Services

No Disability Rating RequiredUnadvertised
Learn More1-800-827-1000

Free mental health treatment for veterans who experienced military sexual trauma — regardless of discharge status, service era, or whether the incident was reported.

Who Qualifies

Any veteran who experienced MST. No disability rating, no formal report, and no minimum service length required.

How to Access

  1. 1Contact your VA facility and ask for the MST Coordinator
  2. 2Every VA facility has a designated MST Coordinator
  3. 3Treatment is free and confidential — no documentation of the incident required

MST services are available even to veterans who are otherwise ineligible for VA care. This is one of the broadest eligibility rules in the VA system.

VA Telehealth Mental Health

Remote Access
Learn More1-866-606-8198

Video and phone-based mental health appointments through VA Video Connect. Access therapy, psychiatry, and peer support from home — no travel required.

Who Qualifies

Enrolled VA healthcare recipients with internet access or a smartphone.

How to Access

  1. 1Download the VA Video Connect app
  2. 2Ask your VA mental health provider to schedule a telehealth appointment
  3. 3Or call your VA facility to set up telehealth access

Rural veterans especially benefit from telehealth — no 2-hour drives for a 50-minute session.

Nonprofit Programs

Peer Support & Community Programs

Some of the most effective mental health support for veterans comes from other veterans. These programs pair you with peers who've been there — and many offer services the VA doesn't.

Give an Hour

Free Therapy
Learn More

Network of licensed mental health professionals who provide free therapy to post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families. No VA enrollment required.

Who Qualifies

Post-9/11 veterans, active duty, National Guard, Reserve, and their families.

How to Access

  1. 1Visit giveanhour.org and search for a provider near you
  2. 2Contact the provider directly to schedule
  3. 3Sessions are completely free — no insurance, no copay

Give an Hour providers are civilian therapists who volunteer their time. Many specialize in military culture and trauma.

Headstrong Project

Free TherapyUnadvertised
Learn More

Free, confidential mental health treatment for post-9/11 veterans and their families. Covers therapy, psychiatry, and medication — no VA, no insurance, no cost.

Who Qualifies

Post-9/11 combat veterans and their immediate family members.

How to Access

  1. 1Apply at getheadstrong.org
  2. 2Complete a brief intake form
  3. 3Get matched with a therapist — treatment begins within weeks

Headstrong covers medication costs too, not just therapy. Many veterans don't know this.

Stack-Up Overwatch Program

Peer Support
Learn More

24/7 peer support program staffed by veterans for veterans in crisis. Connects veterans with trained peer supporters for real-time conversation — not a hotline, a peer.

Who Qualifies

Any veteran or active duty service member.

How to Access

  1. 1Visit stack-up.org/overwatch
  2. 2Submit a request for peer support
  3. 3A trained veteran peer supporter will reach out within hours

Overwatch is staffed by veterans who've been through their own crises. Sometimes talking to someone who's been there matters more than a clinical setting.

Veterans Village of San Diego — Reintegration Programs

Residential
Learn More619-497-0100

Residential and outpatient mental health and substance use treatment programs for veterans. Includes transitional housing, peer support, and employment services.

Who Qualifies

Veterans in Southern California. Some programs available nationally through partnerships.

How to Access

  1. 1Contact VVSD directly at vvsd.net
  2. 2Request an intake assessment
  3. 3Programs range from outpatient counseling to full residential treatment

VVSD has one of the highest success rates for veteran substance use and co-occurring mental health treatment.

Substance Use

Substance Use & Dual Diagnosis

Substance use disorders affect veterans at higher rates than the general population — and they frequently co-occur with PTSD, TBI, and depression. These programs treat both together.

VA Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Free for Enrolled Veterans
Learn More1-800-827-1000

VA offers medically supervised detox, residential rehab, outpatient counseling, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for alcohol and opioid use disorders.

Who Qualifies

Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. Substance use treatment is available regardless of service-connection.

How to Access

  1. 1Contact your VA facility and ask for the Substance Use Disorder clinic
  2. 2Or ask your VA primary care provider for a referral
  3. 3Medication-assisted treatment (Suboxone, Vivitrol) is available at most VA facilities

VA's dual-diagnosis programs treat PTSD and substance use simultaneously — which is critical, since treating one without the other rarely works.

Volunteers of America — Veterans Services

Residential Treatment
Learn More1-800-899-0089

Residential substance use treatment and transitional housing for veterans. Programs in multiple states with veteran-specific tracks.

Who Qualifies

Veterans with substance use disorders. Income-based eligibility for some programs.

How to Access

  1. 1Find a program at voa.org/veterans
  2. 2Contact the local VOA office for intake
  3. 3Many programs accept VA referrals and community care authorizations

VOA programs often have shorter wait times than VA residential programs.

Know a Program We Missed?

Mental health resources change. If you found something that helped you — a local program, a nonprofit, a peer group — submit it so other veterans can find it.

Submit a Resource