Challenges and Innovations in Veterans' Mental Health: An Environmental Scan

United States service members make tremendous sacrifices and demonstrate great courage to secure the country in which we live.  To ensure the safety of all Americans, they serve on domestic soil, leave behind their loved ones, travel to foreign lands, and too often jeopardize their lives.  Following their military careers, former military personnel return to their communities and families, and are expected to reintegrate into civilian life; however, they are often faced with unique challenges.  The mental and physical wounds of today’s veterans can be compounded by everyday life, as many veterans fall victim to financial hardships, unemployment, homelessness, family problems, and difficulty accessing educational benefits.  In addition to the cumulative effects of facing combat-related experiences and challenges on the home front, our veterans are experiencing difficulties accessing mental health services and other resources necessary to achieve optimal health. 

This one-year environmental scan investigated barriers faced by U.S. military veterans in accessing and coordinating their mental health services, as well as the challenges that exist for programs and systems that attempt to meet their needs.  This presentation will summarize findings captured from our national environmental scan, key informant interviews and stakeholders, focus groups, and a national survey.  In addition to identifying challenges and opportunities, this presentation will lift up innovative models that have potential or demonstrated success for veterans and their families in accessing mental health care and other support resources.  Last, the presentation will make recommendations to ameliorate veterans’ mental health today and in forthcoming years.