Mental Health Resources for Women

Mental Health Resources for Women

VA is here to serve as your trusted, holistic, mental health provider delivering the high quality care you need and focusing on what matters to you. Learn more about mental health services for women by calling or texting the Women Veterans Call Center at 855-VA-WOMEN (855-829-6636).

>>Text: WOMEN VETERANS HEALTH CARE
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR WOMEN >>Narrator: The number of women in the armed services – and
in our Veteran population – is rapidly growing. They are modern-day warrior
women, leaders, colleagues, mothers, daughters, sisters and partners
bridging military and civilian life. No matter how you served or what you’ve
experienced in military or civilian life, as a woman Veteran you may face challenges that
affect your health, relationships, and life. You don’t have to face them alone. VA is here to provide and
connect you with trusted, safe mental health resources and support to
manage your personal health needs. Our specialty-trained mental health
professionals are here to address your concerns, including those that may have been
uniquely affected by military service whether anxiety, depression,
post-traumatic stress disorder, or experiences with trauma including
military sexual trauma, and more. VA also has a women’s Mental Health Champion, who is a clinician with specific interest
and training in women Veterans' mental health, at every VA medical center to help you find
the gender-specific care that you need. As a part of your health care team, VA
Mental Health clinicians provide holistic, evidence-based care to address your unique
needs and achieve the goals you choose. >>Cherissa Jackson, Veteran, U.S. Air Force:
Having been deployed three times to Iraq
and Afghanistan, I suffer from PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, so I needed
care after I retired and separated, and I found my local VA that’s been really
awesome in providing that care for me. The first thing I tell women is
“you’re a Veteran. And as a Veteran you have services and resources available to you. Don’t deny yourself those services.” And I advocate for that
for women every single day. >>Elizabeth Greene, M.D., Women's Health Clinic Psychiatrist:
There are numerous benefits for women
Veterans seeking care at the at the VA. Number one, we have a lot of
experience in treating Veterans, and we know about their military experiences. We provide gender-specific care, both medical and mental health-wise. We
collaborate with each other, so a female Veteran seeing me for psychiatry
needs or a counselor for their therapy needs- we easily can speak with and collaborate with
their other medical providers and specialists. And so, they get like a whole
comprehensive package of care. >>Narrator: VA offers gender-related mental health
services that address premenstrual syndrome, postpartum depression, menopause,
pelvic pain, breast cancer, and more. VA also excels in providing care for military
sexual trauma and intimate partner violence. >>Patricia Crawford, RN, Veteran, U.S. Air Force,
Chief Nurse, Mental Health:
When they come in, we meet them
where they are- person-centered care- see what's going on and see what their needs are.
We've seen the outcomes to be very good. >>Narrator: Whether you need support with adjustment after
leaving the service, relationship tension, starting a family, or experiencing
caregiver stress, VA can help. VA offers convenient in-person
or telehealth appointments. >>Elizabeth Greene: I believe that women Veterans should seek
their mental health treatment at the VA because women can get all their health care needs met, from primary care to
specialty medical care to mental health care. When a woman is seeing their primary
care doctor for whatever, you know, issues that brings them in, usually mental
health screening is part of the process. So, they're asked a variety of questions
specifically looking for mental health concerns because sometimes the women themselves aren't
necessarily keen to bring them up themselves. At that point, if a mental
health need is identified we schedule an appointment for as soon
as possible, to help that Veteran. >>Patricia Crawford: We also have additional services that, if
indeed they have thoughts of hurting themselves, we have our suicide prevention
program, which is just phenomenal. I think the coordinated care that we
provide with the VA is just unmatched. >>Narrator: Your status as a Veteran is just one
part of a complex life—and VA is here to serve as your trusted, holistic,
mental health provider – delivering the high-quality care you need and
focusing on what matters to you. Learn more about the full continuum of mental
health services for women Veterans, including primary care-based outpatient, specialty,
residential, and inpatient treatment care options. You can call or text the
Women Veterans Call Center to learn more about VA’s services at 855-VA-WOMEN.

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