During Veteran Suicide and PTSD Awareness Month in June, HHSC is sharing mental health resources available to service members, veterans and their immediate family members.
“By increasing the public’s awareness of the tragic health issues facing veterans through campaigns such as Texas Veterans Suicide Prevention and PTSD Awareness Month, lives can be saved,” said George McEntyre, director of Veterans Mental Health Coordination and Programs.
HHSC contracts and partners with the following local, regional and state organizations to provide vital veterans services:
- Local mental health authorities and local behavioral health authorities provide peer-to-peer counseling services engaging service members, veterans and their immediate family members who have experienced military-related trauma, are at risk of isolation from support services and may not seek services through traditional channels. Find a peer service coordinator in your community. Veterans can find additional resources on networking, crisis assistance, benefits and women’s health on the MentalHealthTX Veterans webpage.
- Texas A&M University Health Science Center provides online information and resources through the TexVet program (veterans can select their zip code to find local resources).
- The Texas Veterans Commission provides training and technical assistance to peer service coordinators, community-based partners and mental health providers. It also coordinates services for justice-involved veterans.
- HHSC also offers 2-1-1 Texas, which connects Texans to important services, including food, housing, care for mental health and substance use disorders, and emergency services. Call 2-1-1 or visit 211texas.org.
- If you need to talk with someone right now, mental health crisis services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Veterans and active-duty service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 (press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line), start a confidential online crisis chat session or send a text message to 838255.
- Visit the Texas Veterans Portal to be connected to benefits and services earned through your or a family member’s military service.
Original source can be found here.
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