TeleMental Health: Transforming PTSD treatment for Veterans

VA's TeleMental Health has transformed how Veterans can receive treatment for PTSD and other mental health challenges by addressing potential barriers head-on.

With 54% of VA outpatient mental health services provided virtually in 2023, TeleMental Health transcends traditional barriers like transportation challenges, concerns about stigma and privacy, and juggling work, education and family responsibilities.

"TeleMental Health has been a game changer," said Dr. Leslie Morland, clinical psychologist at VA's National Center for PTSD. "It's completely changed the landscape of how we provide mental health care."

Challenges to accessing PTSD treatment

For Veterans living in rural areas or long distances from a VA facility, it may be challenging to regularly attend in-person therapy and treatment sessions. TeleMental Health removes these barriers by enabling Veterans to receive care via virtual appointments.

"We have a lot of really great treatments for Veterans with PTSD, but we as a system have struggled with getting patients to connect with those services and stick with them. Any barriers that we remove for Veterans with PTSD to get care are only going to improve the likelihood they will access and stay with the care," Morland continued.

Veterans concerned with privacy and the stigma associated with mental health treatment can connect with their therapist from the privacy and security of their homes.

VA has been testing out ways of altering the traditional therapy model-50-minute sessions in person, once a week for 12 weeks-to give Veterans a choice to meet virtually and complete treatment more frequently in a shorter duration of time using a massed treatment model. This helps Veterans juggling work, education and family responsibilities to find time to fit in a session.

"Some of the Veterans are finding that to be helpful. Veterans have said, 'I can commit to this for a couple of weeks, but I can't commit to 12 weeks.' The services should not take Veterans away from the very things we want them to be doing, which is investing in their life relationally, occupationally and academically," Morland added.

TeleMental Health: flexible, confidential treatment

For Veterans seeking mental health support, VA's TeleMental Health services offer a pathway to care that is convenient, confidential and tailored to individual needs. Veterans seeking TeleMental Health services for PTSD can use the Find a VA location page or talk to their VA care team to connect with resources.

Using a flexible, accessible platform like VA Video Connect enables Veterans to talk to a therapist from their parked car during a lunch break or take part in an after-hours appointment from home.

TeleMental Health and VA Video Connect can help overcome barriers to therapy for PTSD and other challenges like anxiety or depression by providing the support and guidance needed to help Veterans navigate towards a brighter, healthier future.

To learn more about TeleMental Health or PTSD treatment, talk to your VA care team. For more information on telehealth resources, visit the VA Telehealth Services page.

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