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Mental Health Resources for Student Veterans

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, fewer than 50 percent of returning veterans in need receive mental health treatment. As of 2022, the VA reported there were about 18 million veterans in total, with 8.5 percent under age 35. Considering more than 30 percent of veterans reported having a bachelor’s degree or higher as of 2022, this can be a daunting statistic.

The thousands of student veterans who completed college without accessing mental health resources did not have to go it alone. Perhaps they didn’t know where to turn for assistance, or maybe they were embarrassed to ask for help, so they resorted to entrenched military training and “pushed through” to mission success, regardless of its effect on them and their families.

**If you are a veteran in crisis, dial 988 and press 1 for help. You can also text for help by dialing 838255.

While this trait of unwavering perseverance is admirable, it can also be detrimental to the veteran’s overall well-being.

There is no shortage of resources for student veterans on campus and in the community. From on-campus clinics and academic accommodations for students with learning disabilities to off-campus VA facilities and nonprofit mental health support organizations– the options are plenty.  Student veterans have access to help and should be encouraged to reach out and embrace it.

Before we explore the resources and how to access them, we must identify the most common mental health challenges for student veterans attending college.

Learn about GI Bill benefits for active duty, veterans, and family members.

Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Health Resources

There is no shortage of help for student veterans if services on-campus are not suitable or if the veteran needs more military-specific resources. You can find your local VA Mental Health Clinic here. Access to individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, and specialized programs are widely available at your local VA.

**If you are a veteran in crisis, dial 988 and press 1 for help. You can also text for help by dialing 838255.

Naturally, the VA provides programming designed specifically for veterans with unique needs stemming from their military service. It is typical to find resources for dealing with PTSD, MST (military sexual trauma), services tailored for women veterans, and residential treatment programs for veterans suffering from substance abuse disorders.

If you are attending school online or live in a rural area without a VA facility nearby, you can access mental health care remotely via the VA’s telehealth program. All you need is a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, and you can connect with a VA healthcare provider from the comfort of your home or campus.

Community and Online Resources

Vet Centers are an extension of the VA but are not technically VA facilities. They do have access to your VA “file,” so you don’t have to worry about filling out all the paperwork and applications you have already done.

Vet Centers offer services that complement those found at VA facilities.  The benefits of visiting a Vet Centers include free, confidential counseling for veterans and their families in a community setting.

Many times you will find Vet Centers have more customized resources for veterans experiencing mental health challenges stemming from trauma– be it combat-related trauma, military sexual trauma or generalized post-traumatic stress or anxiety disorder.

The physical setting is not as large as most VA Hospitals so the vibe can be less intimidating and more conducive to veterans reaching out for help after coming home from combat or a traumatic stint of military service.

Non-Profit Organizations

Nonprofit organizations can serve as an alternative approach to addressing mental health needs. If you didn’t find the help you need on campus, and you rather not deal with the VA, this may be a solution for you.

The Headstrong Project offers confidential, barrier and stigma-free mental health services to the military community. Their trauma treatment provides 30 cost-free sessions to engage in treatments with a therapist via telehealth.

The Cohen Veterans Network also offers help for veterans who are experiencing mental health challenges. They have 22 clinics covering 20 states, and also offer telehealth. They accept most major insurances including Tricare.

Embarking on an academic journey can be challenging for veterans. It is important to begin on solid footing. Prioritizing mental health should be taken seriously.

While earning a degree is certainly important, nothing is more important than your well-being. So, be sure to identify and take advantage of the resources available to you.

Remember, asking for help does not indicate weakness. Quite the contrary. It brings to light the strength and resilience of veterans when faced with opposition. A student veteran from Make the Connection offers a simple and effective piece of advice. “Whether it is applying for a student loan or seeking help for PTSD, the important thing is to say it! Get it out so you can move forward.”

Learn about GI Bill benefits for active duty, veterans, and family members.

Common Mental Health Challenges Faced by Student Veterans

Veterans experience a variety of life challenges when they leave the military. These everyday challenges can be exacerbated by mental health issues.

Those issues may include but are not limited to:

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Substance abuse disorder

Sometimes, veterans do not realize they are experiencing symptoms until they are well into civilian life, while others may have been diagnosed before separation. Either way, the state of their mental health is a key factor in successfully earning a degree and moving forward in life. It begins with knowing what symptoms to look for.

Symptoms of PTSD include:

• Hypervigilance
• IIsolation
• Avoidance of possible triggers
• Nightmares or vivid memories of trauma i.e. “re-experiencing”
• Negative thoughts or numbness
• Insomnia
• Bouts of anger or sadness
• Self-medicating
• Panic Attacks

TBI symptoms depend on the severity of the brain injury and range from confusion, dizziness, and ringing in the ears to trouble remembering, memory loss, and even trouble walking and talking.

Depression and anxiety can manifest as co-occurring disorders if the veteran has PTS or TBI but can also exist on their own. Warning signs of depression and anxiety might include:

• Feeling overwhelmed by everyday tasks
• Trouble feeling comfortable in large crowds
• Feeling debilitated or experiencing excessive feelings of sadness without explanation
• Panic Attacks

Recognizing how mental health issues manifest themselves “in the classroom” is crucial to the recovery progress and success in earning a degree and in living a balanced and healthy life. As with any major endeavor, earning a degree requires the veteran to begin with a strong foundation of overall health and well-being.

**If you are a veteran in crisis, dial 988 and press 1 for help. You can also text for help by dialing 838255.

According to the VA, student veterans face high rates of mental health challenges which can impact their completion rates. Studies show that many still complete degree programs but face difficulties due to mental health issues that affect academic performance and persistence in their studies.

Sometimes, “red flags” can be seen by others such as professors, family members, or fellow student vets but may be overlooked or ignored by the veteran in an attempt to “push through” and complete the mission.

Again, this does not have to be the reality. We can examine specific examples shared by student veterans and learn from the measures they took to rectify them.

Learn about GI Bill benefits for active duty, veterans, and family members.

Make the Connection

According to the experiences shared by student veterans on maketheconnection.net, the journey to completing a degree is commonly likened to the veteran’s next mission in life—an extension of their military service that provides structure in an otherwise unstructured and sometimes confusing transition. “My last job was combat…” explains one student veteran, “so I take it (going to college) seriously.”

Compared to the majority of college students, veterans are considered “non-traditional” students, as they are usually older than their fellow students, have families, and have more life experience that has shaped the way they see the world.

Sitting amongst young adults who recently graduated high school can be disarming for veterans, causing them to “feel like they should not take it (the opportunity to attend college) for granted,” but most of their classmates have “just graduated high school” and have a massively different mindset. This can be frustrating for a myriad of reasons, and sometimes triggering for student veterans who have a pile of responsibilities in addition to their academics .

It can make it “hard to focus,” a veteran commented. Trouble focusing is a red flag and there are resources available when a student veteran experiences it.

One MakeTheConnection.net user described how he found it helpful to connect with other student veterans on campus. He drove home the concept that, “regardless of the branch you served in,” we are in the same place now and are most likely having similar experiences in the classroom.

He shared his experience of connecting with a classmate, a fellow veteran who he noticed might be struggling with some of the same things he had. He told him how he found help on campus and showed him how to access it. He, in turn, got counseling on campus and said it helped for a while; then they helped him identify resources off campus to continue treatment. In short, sometimes the best place to start is by connecting with fellow student vets.

On-Campus Services for Student Veterans

Identifying on-campus support is an important step for achieving student-veteran success. VITAL, or Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership, is a national program that strives to enhance academic success and retention primarily through on-campus clinical care and coordination.

The VITAL program also works with educators to improve understanding of veterans’ unique strengths and challenges through education and training delivered to the campus community. You can use the VITAL program locator to determine if your school offers this program.

Academic Accommodations On Campus

Colleges and universities are required to have services on campus to support students with learning disabilities. The title of the office may be different depending on the school, but the goal is the same—to provide support specific to the student’s needs ranging from visual and hearing impairment to psychological concerns. Texas A&M provides veterans with a great example of what this office does and what to expect.

This resource can be invaluable to the student-veteran population. Let’s recall the veteran referenced earlier who experienced trouble focusing, who might be eligible for assistive support such as note-taking assistance or extended time for tests.

They even offer assistive technology devices, such as hearing aids, screen-reader software, and SmartPens, for students with hearing or visual impairments.

The members of the campus services team can work with you to determine eligibility criteria, assist in getting the proper documentation and talk with you about your specific needs. If you are already receiving compensation for a service-connected disability through the VA, you can use this to qualify for certain accommodations.

Student Veteran Organizations On Campus

Student Veteran Organizations, or SVO’s, offer a less formal type of support. Not every campus has an SVO. However, it has become increasingly popular and more of a modern norm than ever before.

The SVO will typically originate from the designated veteran office on campus. The SVO will meet regularly to identify fellow veterans who attend the school and offer them a chance to connect.

“Finding” each other isn’t always easy. It is common for vets to want to blend in with their environment, and this trait is no different when on a college campus.

Joining an SVO is an easy way to find other like-minded student-veterans. Showing up for a casual SVO meeting can be a great starting point in discovering other resources on campus.

Learn about GI Bill benefits for active duty, veterans, and family members.

VetSuccess on Campus

The VA has ways to assist veterans in their transition to college life. VetSuccess on campus, or VSOC, is one example.

If you are a veteran or dependent using VR&E (Chapter 31- Veteran Readiness and Employment) and are attending one of the 104 schools across the country that offer VSOC, you have access to a counselor who will help you thrive by utilizing on-campus benefits assistance and counseling.

If necessary, they also provide referrals for health services off-campus through VA Medical Centers, VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinics, or Vet Centers.

**If you are a veteran in crisis, dial 988 and press 1 for help. You can also text for help by dialing 838255.