HEALTHCAREVA program
VA Mental Health Services
Outpatient, inpatient, and residential mental health treatment including PTSD care, depression, anxiety, grief counseling, and substance use disorder programs across all VA medical centers.
Available to enrolled veterans; some services available regardless of discharge status
Step-by-step guide
Ways into VA mental health care
- Enrollment, or a route that needs noneEnrolled veterans get mental health care as part of VA health care. Some care needs no enrollment: emergency suicide care, MST-related care, and care at a Vet Center.
Source: 38 CFR 17.38(a) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.37(i) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.37(l) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: VA mental health services (opens in new tab); VA.gov: military sexual trauma care (opens in new tab)
Where do you want to start?
- Mental health care at VA
VA treats PTSD, depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, MST-related issues, substance use, and more, through outpatient, inpatient, residential, and telehealth care. Mental health care is part of the medical benefits package for enrolled veterans. VA medical centers offer same-day mental health services.
Source: 38 CFR 17.38(a) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: VA mental health services (opens in new tab)
- Vet Centers
Vet Centers are community counseling centers apart from VA hospitals. They offer individual, group, couples, and family counseling, MST counseling, grief counseling, and substance use assessment, free. Vet Center records are kept separate from VA and Defense Department medical records.
- Combat theater service, MST, or a family tieVeterans and service members who served in a combat theater or area of hostilities, or supported it in listed ways, and their family members. VA.gov also lists MST-related counseling at Vet Centers. No enrollment or disability rating is needed.
Source: 38 CFR 17.2000(a) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.2000(e) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: VA mental health services (opens in new tab); VA.gov: military sexual trauma care (opens in new tab)
What to gather, and what it shows VA
| Document | What it shows | How VA gets it | Have it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| DD214 Your discharge papers, with dates and places of service. | Your service, and combat theater service when noted | Not needed to walk in, but it helps. Keep your copy at hand. | Yes |
| Combat medals or combat pay records An expeditionary or campaign medal, or proof of hostile fire or imminent danger pay or the combat tax exemption after November 11, 1998. | Service in a combat theater | With your consent, VA will help get proof of combat theater service for a Vet Center. | |
| Application for health benefits VA Form 10-10EZ, the VA health care enrollment application. | Your request to enroll for ongoing VA care | Apply online on VA.gov, by phone, by mail, or in person at a VA medical center. |
You do not need any document to call or walk in. BeneVets does not ask for records.
Steps, in order
- In crisis, reach out now
Call 988 and select 1, or text 838255. Or call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room or VA medical center.
- If you use VA health care, ask your provider
Ask your VA primary care provider to help you make an appointment with a VA mental health provider.
Source: VA.gov: VA mental health services (opens in new tab)
- If you do not, contact a VA medical center or Vet Center
Call or walk in to your nearest VA medical center or Vet Center to talk about what you need. Use the VA.gov facility locator to find one, or call 877-222-8387.
Source: VA.gov: VA mental health services (opens in new tab); VA.gov: find VA locations (opens in new tab)
- Find a Vet Center
Look up the nearest Vet Center with the VA.gov facility locator. Combat veterans can also call 877-927-8387, 24/7, to talk with a fellow combat veteran.
Source: VA.gov: find VA locations (opens in new tab); VA.gov: VA mental health services (opens in new tab)
- Enroll for ongoing care
For ongoing VA care beyond the routes that need no enrollment, apply for VA health care with VA Form 10-10EZ.
Source: VA Form 10-10EZ (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab)
Good to know
Call 988 and select 1, text 838255, or start a chat on the Veterans Crisis Line. It is free, confidential, and open 24/7. You can also call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, or go to any VA medical center, whatever your discharge status or enrollment.
Source: VA.gov: suicide prevention (opens in new tab); VA.gov: VA mental health services (opens in new tab)
When a provider finds a veteran at risk of immediate self-harm, VA can provide or pay for emergency care even without enrollment, and can start care before it confirms status. The rule covers veterans, and VA.gov adds former service members who experienced sexual assault, battery, or harassment in service, or who served more than 24 months, or more than 100 days in a combat or contingency operation, without a dishonorable discharge. At a non-VA emergency room, say you are a veteran and ask staff to contact VA.
Source: 38 CFR 17.1200(a) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.1210(a) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 17.37(l) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: suicide prevention (opens in new tab)
You can call or walk in to any VA medical center, day or night, or a Vet Center during its hours. VA medical centers offer same-day mental health services, from a walk-in visit to a phone call with a nurse.
Source: VA.gov: VA mental health services (opens in new tab)
Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at /vso-directory. A VSO can help with the VA health care application that opens ongoing care.
Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab)
BeneVets is informational and is not an accredited representative. Free help: an accredited VSO can work through VA benefits with you at no cost. Find an accredited VSO near you
Sources checked October 1, 2026: 38 CFR 17.37(i) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.37(l) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.38(a) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.1200(a) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.1210(a) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.2000(a) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.2000(b) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 17.2000(e) (opens in new tab), VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab), VA.gov: how to apply for VA health care (opens in new tab), VA.gov: VA mental health services (opens in new tab), VA.gov: suicide prevention (opens in new tab), VA.gov: military sexual trauma care (opens in new tab), VA.gov: find VA locations (opens in new tab), VA Form 10-10EZ (opens in new tab)