We’ve all heard, read, or watched on the screen tragic stories of veterans who struggle to find peace after serving in the military. Anxiety, depression, trauma, physical injuries, and chronic pain are some of the common challenges that can make the transition back to civilian life difficult or in some cases feel almost impossible, especially when it’s too hard to access timely or effective mental health support.
Indeed, over the past five years, investigators with the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General have found several cases of suicide after veterans failed to receive adequate care. Unfortunately, a shortage in mental health professionals at VA hospitals and outpatient clinics across the country means veterans often face long wait times for appointments and sometimes last-minute appointment cancellations.
As veterans’ needs become more complex, barriers to quality care persist
What’s more, as the veteran population ages, their needs are becoming more complex, adding more pressure to a fragile system. And although Congress expanded the use of private-sector care to relieve pressure on the VA, those efforts haven’t proven effective in increasing the quality or lowering the cost of care veterans receive.
In fact, in private-sector care, veterans aren’t always asked about their vet status and fail to get screened for mental health challenges. Yet maintaining quality care is critical to ensuring vets are appropriately screened for suicide risk and offered evidence-based care.
Calm introduces evidence-based programs to support veteran mental health
Employers and health plans seeking to fill that gap can consider Calm Health, which gives veterans access to an online mental health screening and evidence-based programs targeting their specific challenges and needs.
Veterans can complete a mental health screening anytime
With Calm Health, veterans can access an online mental health screening anytime. The screening takes just one to two minutes to complete and uses questions from the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), a screening for depression symptoms, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7), a screening for anxiety symptoms.*
*The Calm Health mental health screening is not intended to diagnose depression or anxiety, nor is it a substitute for care by a physician or other healthcare provider. It is available only to US residents age 18 or older.)
After responses to the questionnaire are provided, Calm Health recommends a combination of mindfulness content, external resources aligned to the user’s screening responses, and evidence-based programs developed by psychologists. If a veteran completing the Calm Health mental health screening indicates they’re having thoughts of self-harm, they will be directed to crisis support, either the national 988 line or an alternative crisis response configured in Calm Health by their health plan or employer.
Veteran’s Guide to Separating from Service
Veteran’s Guide to Separating from Service is an evidence-based program on Calm Health designed to help veterans navigate the sometimes tricky transition from military to civilian life. The program was developed in collaboration with David Rozek, PhD, ABPP, a licensed psychologist who specializes in working with veterans, and it is narrated by Lt. Colonel Jason Harris, who recently retired after serving nearly three decades in the Air Force. In eight episodes, veterans learn practical tools to help them reconnect with family and friends, foster new relationships, and discover new passions and a sense of purpose.
For example, Harris walks listeners through exercises to help them navigate their anger in the moment, reframe negative thoughts as more realistic and positive ones, and get through moments of anxiety. He also helps them recognize communication traps they might be falling into when feeling stressed or overwhelmed and how to avoid them.
Support for Women Veterans
Similarly, Calm Health offers an evidence-based program to help women veterans of the military address their unique challenges as they reintegrate into civilian life. It includes content about honoring one’s identity as a servicemember and learning about trauma. Female veterans are more than twice as likely than male veterans to experience PTSD, according to the VA.
A six-episode program, Support for Women Veterans was developed by Tara Galovski, PhD, director of the Women’s Health Sciences Division at the VA’s National Center for PTSD and is narrated by Lt. Colonel Lisa Jaster, a mother, wife, and soldier who left active duty in 2007. Episodes include the following:
- Owning Your Veteran Identity
- Supporting You During Trauma-Related Distress
- Feeding Your Well of Hope
- Navigating Healthcare
- Supporting Your Well-being
Additional Calm Health programs for veterans and active military
Veterans, active military, and their partners can access additional programs on Calm Health designed to address their specific needs:
- Support for Trauma and PTSD helps listeners understand the symptoms of trauma and PTSD and learn science-based tools for understanding emotions and thoughts.
- Support for Military Spouses offers tools to help strengthen relationships, reduce stress, and invest in self-care.
- Military Resilience offers practical advice to help people cope with the challenges of military life.
Commit to helping veterans get the right support at the right time
There are 16.2 million veterans in the US today, and studies show that one in 4 meet the diagnostic criteria for a mental health concern and one in 10 struggle with multiple conditions. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, every day, an average of 20 veterans die by suicide. This Veterans Day and beyond, explore ways that your organization can help them access timely, evidence-based programs designed to support their specific challenges and live healthier, happier lives.
For more information on proactively supporting employee mental health and well-being, check out our pricing or connect with a Calm specialist today.
